News Release
Jan. 9, 2020
The Texas Department of State
Health Services is alerting consumers after a case of mercury poisoning was
linked to a cosmetic purchased in Mexico. A woman was hospitalized in Texas after
a pharmacy in Mexico mixed face cream for her, apparently adding mercury to a
name brand product. Laboratory testing showed the product contained 29,000
parts per million of inorganic mercury. U.S. regulations prohibit the sale of
skin cream with more than 1 ppm of mercury.
Skin creams containing mercury may
be available commercially or from individual sellers in Mexico and other
countries. They claim to lighten the skin, treat acne, or fade freckles and age
spots. In the past, DSHS has found mercury in cosmetics imported from Mexico
and sold in Texas at flea markets or person to person.
To protect themselves, DSHS urges
people only to purchase skin cream and similar cosmetics sealed in their
original containers and sold by reputable retailers in the United States. If
you think you have a product that may contain mercury, seal it in a plastic bag
and discard it at a household
hazardous waste facility.
Mercury can cause serious
neurological symptoms like tremors, memory loss, difficulty concentrating,
depression and anxiety. Other symptoms include headaches, high blood pressure,
fatigue and numbness or tingling in the hands, feet and lips. Long-term
exposure can result in damage to the nervous system, digestive tract and
kidneys. Mercury can be passed from mother to child before birth or through
breastmilk.
The Texas patient was hospitalized
for about 10 days after experiencing complications of the treatment for mercury
poisoning. She has been discharged and is expected to recover.
Health Advisory
Mercury in Skin Creams Fact Sheet
-30-
(News Media Contact: Chris Van Deusen, DSHS
Director of Media Relations, 512-776-7119)
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