According to one group, some whitening products that are high in mercury content can be dangerous.
Environmental watchdog Ban Toxics said the sale of bleach with high mercury content was rampant in Baclaran when they conducted a test buy on April 3.
“Ang kalimitan pong mga produkto ay ‘yun pong mga whitening creams na nanggagaling po sa mga bansa tulad po ng Pakistan, ng Thailand,” said the group’s executive director Reynaldo San Juan Jr.
He explained that mercury blocks melanin in the skin so that it no longer produces color and whitens quickly.
“Ang mercury po ay sisirain ‘yung ating utak… Ito po ay bio-accumulative, ibig sabihin, ‘pag ito’y pumasok sa katawan natin, hindi na po ito mawawala at dagdag na lang nang dagdag hanggang sa mismong ang brain motor mo ay hindi na gumana nang maayos,” said San Juan in an interview with TeleRadyo.
“Magkakaroon ka na ng involuntary movement, pati pagkilos mo, pag-iisip mo hindi na maayos talagang napakadelikado po,” he warned.
According to San Juan, the public should determine if the bleach they are buying is registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Group warns against skin whiteners with mercury
“Kung hindi mo naiintindihan yung label, kung ano yung nakasulat, eh meydo umiwas ka na dahil hindi mo naiintindihan kung ano ang laman nito at kung ano man ang magiging epekto nito,” he said.
For San Juan, there is nothing wrong with wanting to turn white. But, he said, health should not be sacrificed for the sake of bleaching.
“Kung minsan po, y’ung ating konsepto, pagka iniisip na maganda ka ‘pag maputi ka, ay hindi naman po dapat maging dahilan para maghatid ng kapahamanakan sa iyong kalusugan,” he said.
“Mas hangarin po natin na tingnan po yung kalusugan ninyo dahil po ‘yung kalusugan ay mas mahalaga sa pagputi,” he added.
Mercury toxicity affects some people more than others, particularly pregnant women, breastfeeding babies, and young children. Mercury’s effects on growing brains and nervous systems may be particularly harmful to babies. In addition, because mercury is transferred through breast milk, newborns who nurse are at risk.
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