Membranous nephropathy caused by mercury-containing skin lightening cream

Oliveira, D. B. G.; Foster, Gregory H.; Savill, John; Syme, Paul D.; Taylor, Andrew

doi:10.1136/pgmj.63.738.303

Cited by 71 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…Thus, four deaths and up to 800 people were injured, after using weight-loss supplements containing hidden quantities of the untested drug n-nitroso-fenfl uramine (Lau, 2004). Skin-lightening creams containing mercury were responsible for hundreds of poisoning cases (Oliveira, Foster, Savill, Syme & Taylor, 1987), with creams containing hydroquinone and corticosteroids also causing many harms (Fraser et al, 2010 Note. 1 A number of human enhancement drugs are also legitimate medicines, which have been tested and approved at appropriate dosages for specific conditions.…”

Section: The Harms Associated With Human Enhancement Drugsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drogas potenciadoras para la búsqueda de la perfección

2012

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Section: The Harms Associated With Human Enhancement Drugsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drogas potenciadoras para la búsqueda de la perfección

2012

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“…Additional cases of membranous GN due to mercury-containing cosmetics have been described by Lindqvist et al [213], Kibukamusoke et al [214]. and Oliveira et al [215], It was later shown by Barr [216] that about 50% of patients in Kenya with nephrotic syndrome suffered from immune-mediated glo merulopathy. All o f them had used skin-lightening cream containing mercury chloride, and an association to HLA phenotype was suggested.…”

Section: Type Hi Hypersensitivity (Immune Complex Mediated)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Amalgam Affect the Immune System? A Controversial Issue (Part 2 of 2)

Eneström¹,

Hultman²

1995

Int Arch Allergy Immunol

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Although in use for more than 150 years, dental amalgam has been questioned more or less vigorously as a dental restoration material due to its alleged health hazard. Humans are exposed to mercury and the other main dental amalgam metals (Ag, Sn, Cu, Zn) via vapour, corrosion products in swallowed saliva, and direct absorption into the blood from the oral cavity. Dental amalgam fillings are the most important source of mercury exposure in the general population. Local, and in some instances, systemic hypersensitivity reactions to dental amalgam metals, especially mercury, occur at a low frequency among amalgam bearers. Experimental and clinical data strongly indicate that these and other subclinical systemic adverse immunological reactions to dental amalgam metals in humans will be linked to certain MHC genotypes, and affect only a small number of the exposed individuals. These individuals will be very difficult to detect in a mixed population of susceptible and resistant individuals, including persons with alleged symptoms due to dental amalgam fillings, where many of the individuals are likely to suffer from conditions with no proven immunological background such as multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome. Intensified studies should be performed to identify such susceptible MHC genotypes, taking advantage of the reported cases of more heavily metal-exposed humans with systemic autoimmune reactions. Further studies will also be needed to ascertain whether the combined exposure to the metals in dental amalgam may lower the threshold for adverse immunological reactions, since recent studies have shown that the metals in alloy, especially silver, may induce autoimmunity in genetically susceptible mice.

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“…Mercury is absorbed through the skin [12,34,35] and accumulated in different body tissues where the highest is in the kidney [36]. Nephrotoxic effects have been attributed to the topical application of inorganic mercury salts [34,[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. On the other hand, Sin and Tsang [45] found that the majority of skin lightening users had urinary mercury >20 µg/L or blood mercury concentrations >10 µg/L but remained asymptomatic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accumulation of Mercury in Ovaries of Mice After the Application of Skin-lightening Creams

Al‐Saleh

Shinwari

Al-Amodi

2009

Biol Trace Elem Res

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Skin-lightening creams are being increasingly used by women in particular, worldwide in an attempt to whiten their skin. Men and older people use these creams to remove age spots or other pigmentation disorders. Several studies have reported the presence of high mercury levels in skin-lightening cream. Women, especially pregnant and nursing mothers, who use these creams are at risk of mercury toxicity because long-term exposure can cause permanent neurological damage, nephrological disorders, fertility problems, and birth defects. Early exposure usually has no clinical symptoms. Mercury levels were measured in a total of 49 ovary tissue samples. The mean mercury contents in the ovaries of non-treated mice (11.70 +/- 13.38 ng/g) were compared to mice treated with Rose skin-lightening cream samples (2,471.92 +/- 1,336.31 ng/g) and those treated with Fair & Lovely skin-lightening creams (58.47 +/- 39.51 ng/g). The mercury content in the ovary tissues increased with number of cream applications and were highest in the ovaries of mice treated twice a day with Fair & Lovely (87.79 +/- 26.20 ng/g) and once a day with Rose (3,515.61 +/- 1,099.78 ng/g). Our data indicate that dermal exposure to mercury can result in a significant accumulation in the ovaries of mice following the application of skin-lightening cream. This may cause alterations in reproductive behavior and contribute to infertility or ovarian failure. Of course, these results need to be confirmed by further research. Imported or locally made skin-lightening creams are widely available in Saudi market. It would be ideal to ban the sale of these creams but unfortunately, advertisements in the mass media presenting celebrities and beauty specialists make these products more popular. Alternatively, public health authorities should encourage more reliance on prescribed creams for the treatment of skin pigmentation problems.

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Membranous nephropathy caused by mercury-containing skin lightening cream

Cited by 71 publications

References 7 publications

Drogas potenciadoras para la búsqueda de la perfección

Drogas potenciadoras para la búsqueda de la perfección

Does Amalgam Affect the Immune System? A Controversial Issue (Part 2 of 2)

Accumulation of Mercury in Ovaries of Mice After the Application of Skin-lightening Creams

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