A new study done by Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) Pollution Monitoring Lab (PML) has found mercury in 44 per cent of the fairness creams of all the creams it tested, while chromium was found in almost 50 per cent and nickel in 43 per cent of the lipstick samples tested.



According to the reports, mercury was found in 14 noted fairness creams in the range of 0.10 parts per million (ppm) to 1.97 ppm. "Presence of mercury in cosmetics is completely illegal and unlawful," said CSE director general Sunita Narain.

Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) Pollution Monitoring Lab (PML) has found nickel in 43 per cent of the lipstick samples tested Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) Pollution Monitoring Lab (PML) has found nickel in 43 per cent of the lipstick samples tested

Mercury was found in 14 noted fairness creams in the range of 0.10 parts per million (ppm) to 1.97 ppm. Aroma Magic Fair Lotion, a product of Blossom Kochhar Beauty Products Pvt Ltd, had the highest mercury level at 1.97 ppm, followed by Olay Natural White (1.79 ppm), a product of Procter and Gamble, India, and Ponds White Beauty (1.36 ppm) of Hindustan Unilever Ltd.Chromium was found in 15 out of 30 lipsticks tested in the range of 0.45 ppm to 17.83 ppm. Hearts & Tarts (080V) shade of ColorBar had the highest concentration. Nickel was found in 13 out of 30 products tested in the range of 0.57 to 9.18 ppm, with Lancome-Labsolu Nu-204 of L'Oreal India Pvt. Ltd. containing the highest concentration."Mercury is a neurotoxin. Inorganic mercury that is present in fairness creams can damage kidneys and may cause rashes, skin discolouration and scarring. It can also cause anxiety, depression, psychosis and peripheral neuropathy," the study said. CSE compared the levels of heavy metals found with their Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) limits.

"The results show whitening creams may contribute up to 71 per cent of the ADI for mercury, depending upon the product and the amount of the fairness cream used. This is a very high level of exposure to mercury from just one product," the report said. For a heavy user, 13 out of 30 lipsticks tested by CSE would cross the ADI in terms of chromium.

Lipstick with highest level of chromium would expose a heavy user to over 15 times the safety limit. Hexavalent chromium (CrVI), one of the forms in which chromium is present, is known to cause cancer in humans. CSE has called for bridging the gap in terms of rules and regulations. In India, limits are set only for few heavy metals and that too, in colourants - an ingredient used in cosmetics.



"Manufacturers often get away on the pretext that toxic metals are present in trace levels. It is important that regulators set limits for final products and enforce them," Chandra Bhushan, head of PML, CSE, said. CSE approached all companies with the test results of their products. Seven out of 14 companies responded. However, most took refuge in the concept of 'trace' presence. Their defence is that the heavy metal found is small in quantity and it is unavoidable because it is part of the ingredients. They also claimed that their product is safe for long-term use. "We also found Arsenic and Nickel in Kajal, lipsticks and sindoor. These metals can be harmful to human health," said Dr S.S. Aggarwal, principal of Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

