Accumulation of Mercury in Ovaries of Mice After the Application of Skin-lightening Creams |
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Authors: | Iman Al-Saleh Neptune Shinwari Mona Al-Amodi |
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Institution: | (1) Environmental Health Section, Biological and Medical Research Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia;(2) Faculty of Science, Zoology Department, King Saud University, P.O. Box: 22452, Riyadh, 11495, Saudi Arabia |
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Abstract: | 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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Keywords: | Mercury Skin-lightening cream Ovary Dermal exposure Women |
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