< Back to Previous Page NYC Health Department Warns Mercury Products Can Poison Fetuses Following a confirmed case of mercury poisoning in a New York City resident who had been using an imported "skin-lightening" cream, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) today warned against the use of similar creams, soaps and other cosmetic products which contain mercury. DOHMH is investigating the availability of these products in City stores and is working with the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to test certain creams and other products for mercury content. The person identified with mercury poisoning used a product called Recetas de la Farmacia - Crema Blanqueadora, which is manufactured in the Dominican Republic and is advertised for use for "skin-lightening," and to treat acne and skin blemishes; it was purchased in the Dominican Republic. Government officials in that country are working closely with DOHMH to halt the manufacture and distribution of these products. The person was a participant in DOHMH's New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC HANES) and was identified because of testing done in that survey. The product she used contains a type of mercury that is easily absorbed through the skin. While the FDA limit for mercury is 1 part per million (ppm); the tested sample contained more than 6,000 parts per million (ppm) of mercury. The patient remains under medical observation. Subsequent investigations of product availability by DOHMH, as well as by a physician from Columbia University Medical Center, turned up skin-lightening soaps and creams at stores in the Bronx, Queens and northern Manhattan. The products, made in the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong and China, were either not labeled properly (apart from identifying it as a skin-lightening product) or listed mercury as an ingredient: products that use mercury as a skin-bleaching ingredient are considered adulterated under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and are thus illegal to sell under the City's Health Code. "Before using any cosmetic product, New Yorkers should make sure the ingredients are printed on the product's box or container, as required under federal law," said DOHMH Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH. "We urge New Yorkers not to use imported products if there are no ingredients on the label, or if a product lists mercury as an ingredient. Mercury is poisonous and can cause severe damage to the nervous system. It also causes birth defects. If you have used these products and have symptoms of mercury poisoning such as irritability, tremors, or memory loss, see a physician immediately and get tested for mercury poisoning." Commissioner Frieden added: "Consumers can also call 311 to report sales of these products at your local store and the Health Department will investigate; storeowners who have stocked these products should call 311 to have these products safely retrieved by the DOHMH." Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Guillermo Linares said, "While many of us have a preference for using certain cosmetics, no one should use products with mercury or unlabeled ingredients. I urge consumers, store owners and community networks to quickly alert immigrants and other New Yorkers about this hazard." Direct and prolonged exposure to mercury can cause damage to the brain, nervous system and kidneys. Using products containing mercury can also result in skin rashes, irritation, and other changes to the skin. Mercury is also extremely toxic to unborn children, and while pregnant women who use these creams may not experience symptoms of mercury poisoning, the fetuses could become severely poisoned, resulting in brain damage and other malformations.