Popular cosmetic products, including fairness creams and lipsticks, contain mercury, chromium and nickel, according to a report released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) here on Wednesday.

The public research and advocacy organisation’s Pollution Monitoring Lab, which conducted the study, found mercury in 44 per cent of the fairness creams it tested. It also found chromium in 50 per cent and nickel in 43 per cent of the lipstick samples it tested.

“Mercury is not supposed to be present in several leading cosmetic products. The mere presence of it in these products is completely illegal and unlawful,” said CSE director general Sunita Narain

Seventy-three cosmetic products in four different categories were tested for heavy metals. Fairness creams, lipsticks, lip balms and anti-ageing creams were tested for mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel. The samples included Indian and international cosmetic brands as well as a few herbal products.

The results showed mercury in 14 fairness creams in the range of 0.10 parts per million (ppm) to 1.97 ppm. Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules of India, the use of mercury is banned in cosmetics.

Chromium was found in 15 out of the 30 lipsticks tested in the range of 0.45 ppm to 17.83 ppm. Nickel was found in 13 out of 30 products tested in the range of 0.57 to 9.18 ppm.

However, no heavy metals were found in anti-aging creams and lip balms. The study also didn’t detect lead and cadmium in lipsticks.

“To gauge the safety of cosmetic products it tested, the CSE compared the levels of heavy metals found with their acceptable daily intake (ADI) limits. The results showed 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,” noted the study.

This is a very high level of exposure to mercury, a neurotoxin, from just one product. Inorganic mercury present in fairness creams can damage kidneys and cause rashes, skin discolouration and scarring.

The CSE said it approached all companies with the test results of their products. Seven out of 14 companies responded. None disputed the findings.

50 per cent of lipsticks tested had chromium, 43 per cent had nickel

Mercury was detected in 44 per cent of fairness cream samples