Despite years of toxicity warnings, skin whitening creams remain on store shelves around the world. These cosmetics often contain mercury, a dangerous neurotoxic metal that can damage the kidneys and heart and cause permanent brain damage. Marketing of skin whitening creams has been called a legacy of colonialism, following racism and social discrimination based on skin color, and is perpetuated by racist media and popular culture, which shows light colored skin as the beauty ideal.
Quezon City, Philippines In spite of a public health warning issued by the Philippine government almost five years ago, local dealers of mercury-containing "beauty creams" from South Asia continue to ply their poison cosmetics.
EcoWaste Coalition calls on shopping giants to end use of mercury in their products
Monday, 07 March 2022
Quezon City, Philippines On the occasion of the International Women's Day and the National Women's Month, a toxics watchdog group took online shopping giants to task for their failure to rid their platforms of poison cosmetics, particularly mercury-containing skin whitening facial creams that are marketed for women's use.
Quezon City, Philippines Mercury in cosmetics remains a serious threat to human health and the environment 14 years after the ASEAN regional bloc decided to ban it in cosmetic product formulations.
The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition made this observation after analyzing 15 imported skin lightening products that are sold in the country without authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Customs authorities cautioned from burning confiscated cosmetics containing mercury
Thursday, 18 June 2020
Quezon City, Philippines Non-government organizations have cautioned the customs authorities from burning confiscated skin whitening products tainted with mercury to reduce the harm of mercury pollution to human health and the environment.
Last week, the Bureau of Customs NAIA sent to a pyrolysis disposal facility in Trece Martires City some 1.5 tons of seized imported goods, including 400 kilos of unregistered Goree skin lightening cosmetics that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned in 2017 due to their mercury content.
In celebration of the International Women’s Day (March 8), an environmental group warned the public anew on the health hazards posed by mercury-laced skin whitening cosmetics used mostly by women.
