Mercury Contamination of Skin-whitening Creams in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Murphy, Tom; Kim, Sothea; Chanra, Prean; Lim, Sereyrath; Wilson, Kenneth S.; Irvine, Kim N.; Slotton, Darell G.; Allen, Lori B.

doi:10.5696/2156-9614-5-9.33

Cited by 18 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(12 reference statements)

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“…Laboratory analyses of the cream revealed a mercury content of ~ 18%. This is comparable to what has been previously reported for skin-lightening creams [7,10]. However, the cream was not advertised as a skin-lightening cream, but for achieving a better skin appearance.…”

Section: Case Presentationsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Until 14 cm length mercury levels increased exponentially, thereafter, the increase is linear. The levels found in her hair are higher to what has been previously reported for the use of skin-lightening creams [10].…”

Section: Case Presentationcontrasting

confidence: 62%

“…Therefore, her hair must have absorbed mercury due to contact with the cream, either during application (hairline) or sleep (all hair). Hair is rich in cysteine, which forms a complex with mercury, causing an accumulation over time [10,18]. The high concentration of mercury in hair, together with skin shedding, also explain the levels in dust.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury Poisoning of a 4-Year-old Child by Indirect Contact to a Mercury Containing Facial Cream: Case Report

Rakete¹,

Asenbauer²,

Böhm³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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A 4-yr old patient was admitted to the hospital with pain attacks in his extremities, tachycardia, hypertension, increased sweating, behavioral changes and weight loss. Extensive examinations eventually revealed an acute mercury poisoning. The mercury levels in blood and urine were 36.7 µg/l and 90 µg/g creatinine, respectively. A facial cream bought online, containing approximately 18 % mercury, was identified as the primary source of intoxication. The symptoms improved after disposal of the cream and chelation therapy. Biomonitoring of the mother and the brother, who remained asymptomatic, indicated an increased exposure to mercury, too. The mother, who had been using the cream for approximately three months, denied its application on her children. Further analyses, home visits and interviews suggested that the child was accidently intoxicated by skin-to-skin contact with the mother. Other mercury sources were excluded and mercury levels decreased considerably over time. The family will be closely monitored to exclude any long-term health issues. Lessons learnt from this case of an acute mercury intoxication is that even skin to skin contact with a mercury containing cream can have significant negative health effects for a child.

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Section: Case Presentationsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Case Presentationcontrasting

confidence: 62%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mercury Poisoning of a 4-Year-old Child by Indirect Contact to a Mercury Containing Facial Cream: Case Report

Rakete¹,

Asenbauer²,

Böhm³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…A large number of samples can be processed, which is ideal for geospatial analysis of contaminants. XRF analysis is not as commonly used for metals analysis as atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma analysis (ICP), but it has been applied in studies as diverse as the assessment of contaminants in sediments, soils, atmospheric dust, household paints, skin whitening creams, trace element levels in alloys and geological materials, and the evaluation of art and archaeological specimens (Rhoads and Cahill 1999;Mantler and Schreiner 2000;Szökefalvi-Nagy et al 2004;Vittiglio et al 2004;Lawryk et al 2009;Apeagyei et al 2011;Diaz et al 2014;Shuttleworth 2014;Charlou et al 2014;Murphy et al 2015;Lim et al 2015;Sereyrath et al 2016;Murphy et al 2018). Radu and Diamond (2009) showed a good correlation between XRF and AAS analysis of metals in soil samples, while Murphy et al (2012) showed a good correlation between XRF and ICP-OES analysis of skin whitening creams.…”

Section: Metal Analysis By X-ray Fluorescencementioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Patterns of Heavy Metals in the Sediments of a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Pond System and Receiving Waterbody, Cha am, Thailand

Andreas

Irvine

Jindal

et al. 2019

JWMM

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Cha am, a popular beach destination in Thailand, uses an aerated lagoon system with four ponds in series to treat its municipal wastewater. This study investigated the spatial pattern of heavy metal concentrations in the sediment deposited at the bottom of the four ponds and along the river receiving the treated wastewater discharge. Using a stratified random sampling scheme, between 11 and 14 surface grab samples were collected from each of the four ponds on two different dates in September and October 2016 (94 samples in total). An additional 17 samples were collected in December 2016 along the 1.8 km river section connecting the ponds to the ocean. A Bruker S1 Titan 600 X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyser was used to determine metal concentrations in the air dried sediment samples. Ordinary kriging in ArcGIS10.1 indicated that while metal concentrations were greater in the middle areas of each pond, from pond to pond the metal concentrations exhibited different spatial trends. The ponds provide treatment for most of the metals analysed, with Student t-tests showing that mean concentrations of arsenic, chlorine and zinc decreased significantly from the first pond to the third pond but increased significantly in the fourth pond. Chromium concentration changed insignificantly between ponds; lead concentration decreased significantly from the first to the second pond, but there were insignificant changes in mean lead concentration thereafter. Concentrations of cadmium, cobalt, mercury and selenium were below the XRF limit of detection, but the mean levels of arsenic, chromium, copper, lead and manganese in each of the four ponds frequently exceeded Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change lowest effect level (LEL) guidelines for sediment. Metal levels in the upper reach of the river, closest to the pond discharge, were similar to the pond levels and generally decreased downstream. With the exception of zinc, metal levels detected in the river sediment frequently exceeded the LEL guidelines.

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“…the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recommended guideline of 1 µg/g. 2,3 Ninety percent of the enamel paints sampled in Cambodia exceeded a voluntary standard of 100 μg/g lead (Pb) of the producing country, Thailand. 4 The problem is not limited to Cambodia, as studies in the US, India, and China have found elevated Pb in children's toys, low-cost jewelry, and paints.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Metal Contamination in Low-Cost Jewelry and Toys in Cambodia

Murphy

Lim

Kim

et al. 2016

Journal of Health and Pollution

Self Cite

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Cambodia imports most of its consumer products from nearby countries and the rate of economic growth of Cambodia has produced a high demand for consumer products. 1 This influx of consumer products requires a more rapid, effective system of quality control. Consumer products that are imported and sold in Cambodia can contain chemical contaminants that pose serious adverse health effects to consumers. About one-third of the skin creams analyzed in Phnom Penh contained mercury (Hg) in amounts higher than Background. The existence of lead-contaminated consumer products is a global issue. Toys and low-cost jewelry may contain toxic metals and Cambodia is known to have consumer products with toxic metals. Objectives. It is important to inform Cambodians about sources of toxic metals so that they can reduce their exposure risk, particularly for children. Methods. Student volunteers purchased, or brought from home, low-cost jewelry and toys to either the University of Health Science or a Don Bosco Institute in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where they were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The initial analysis was performed in 2011. A subset of the 2011 samples was re-analyzed in 2015 using new preparation techniques and a new x-ray fluorescence (XRF) unit. Discussion. The analysis of low-cost jewelry in Phnom Penh in 2015 indicated that lead in jewelry clasps is a more serious health concern than was first perceived in 2011. Mercury, nickel, cadmium and copper were also found in toys, and occasionally these toys had been produced by well-known companies. Sources of jewelry production of samples in the present study are unknown. Lead in clasps in low-cost jewelry appeared to be the greatest risk to children in our sampling. Conclusion. One-third of toys and low-cost jewelry exceeded the United States and European Union guidelines for heavy metals. XRF analysis allows for rapid screening of lead and other toxic metals and could be used to reduce the sales of low-cost jewelry and toys containing toxic metals.

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Mercury Contamination of Skin-whitening Creams in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Cited by 18 publications

References 21 publications

Mercury Poisoning of a 4-Year-old Child by Indirect Contact to a Mercury Containing Facial Cream: Case Report

Mercury Poisoning of a 4-Year-old Child by Indirect Contact to a Mercury Containing Facial Cream: Case Report

Spatial Patterns of Heavy Metals in the Sediments of a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Pond System and Receiving Waterbody, Cha am, Thailand

Metal Contamination in Low-Cost Jewelry and Toys in Cambodia

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