Mercury Poisoning Associated with International and Local Skin Whitening Creams in Pakistan

Abstract

This report covers all the details of research work, undertaken for accomplishing our study on local as well as international brands of SWCs collected from the markets at main cities of Pakistan. A total of 59 SWCs samples of different brands were collected, transported, stored, labeled, following all the requirements of standard procedures/protocol and finally handed over to officials of PINSTECH laboratories, Islamabad, Pakistan for total mercury content analysis, under a confidential identity number of each sample of purchased and studied brands of SWCs. Mercury analysis of 59 samples was found to be in the range of 0.74 ppm-44,292 ppm. The results showed that among 59 samples of SWCs studied only 3 samples contain mercury content below the MCM permissible (1ppm) limit.