Cadungog Dave Gabriel E, Yee Jhon Robin D, Sucgang Raymond J
Department of Science and Technology (Philippines) - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines.
Department of Science and Technology (Philippines) - Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2025 Oct;204:115676. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2025.115676. Epub 2025 Aug 5.
Mercury in skin-lightening cosmetics poses a serious health risk despite international limits of 1 mg/kg set by regulations like the Minamata Convention. This study analyzed 134 products purchased online from seven Asian countries using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Over 58 % of the samples exceeded the permissible mercury limit, with concentrations ranging from 1.8 mg/kg to an alarming 144,893.9 mg/kg. Products from the Philippines, Indonesia, and India showed the highest average mercury levels, reflecting significant regulatory gaps. Health risk assessments revealed that over 94 % of mercury-positive products had hazard quotient (HQ) values exceeding the safety threshold, even under conservative assumptions. The findings highlight widespread non-compliance with safety standards, especially for online cosmetics, where regulatory oversight is limited. Immediate action is needed to strengthen enforcement, enhance consumer awareness, and implement routine monitoring to address the health risks posed by mercury-containing cosmetics.
尽管《水俣公约》等法规设定了1毫克/千克的国际限量，但美白化妆品中的汞仍构成严重的健康风险。本研究使用X射线荧光光谱法分析了从七个亚洲国家在线购买的134种产品。超过58%的样品汞含量超过了允许限量，浓度范围从1.8毫克/千克到惊人的144,893.9毫克/千克。来自菲律宾、印度尼西亚和印度的产品汞平均含量最高，这反映出存在重大的监管漏洞。健康风险评估显示，即使在保守假设下，超过94%的汞阳性产品的危害商（HQ）值也超过了安全阈值。研究结果凸显了普遍存在的不符合安全标准的情况，尤其是在线化妆品，其监管监督有限。需要立即采取行动加强执法、提高消费者意识并实施常规监测，以应对含汞化妆品带来的健康风险。
