EcoWaste Coalition called the mayors of the cities of Cagayan de Oro (CDO), Cotabato, Davao, General Santos, Koronadal, Iligan, Malaybalay, Marawi, Tacurong, Tagum, Valencia and Zamboanga to assist the national government in “purging the market” of beauty products with excessive mercury content.
In an operation carried out by the group last November 9, 2014 to February 2, 2015 in 50 cities nationwide, it found out 316 samples of 355 skin whitening products samples contain mercury above 1 ppm.
The Food and Drugs Administration, in line with the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive, has set 1 part per million (ppm) as the allowable limit of mercury in cosmetics.
139 of the 355 samples were from Mindanao with 110 of the 135 testing positive for mercury.
The top 10 samples from Mindanao with the highest concentrations of mercury include:
1. Xuefujiaolan Herbal Whitening and Embellish Classic Set (3 small jars) from CDO, with 96,100 ppm of mercury
2. Beauty Girl Egg White and Tomato 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Cream from CDO, with 48,700 ppm of mercury
3. Yu Dan Tang Gingseng and Green Cucumber 10 Days Whitening Speckles Removed Essence from CDO, with 48,700 ppm of mercury
4. Feique Cucumber Anti-Wrinkle Whitening Set from Zamboanga, with 25,800 ppm of mercury
5. Zi XIn Mei Face Beauty Vegetable Red in White Series (purple and gold box) from Zamboanga, with 10,700 ppm of mercury
6. Zi Xin Mei Face Beauty Vegetable Red in White Series (pink and white box) from Zamboanga, with 9,839 ppm of mercury
7. Collagen Plus Vit E Day and Night Cream from Zamboanga, with 9,003 ppm of mercury
8. Jiaoli Herbs Essence Whitening AB Set from Marawi City, with 6,758 ppm of mercury
9. S’Zitang 10 Days Whitening & Spot Day Night Set from Zamboanga, with 5,092 ppm of mercury
10. Erna Whitening Cream from General Santos, with 5,012 ppm of mercury
“We appeal to the good mayors to seize the dangerous goods and castigate unscrupulous traders to protect their constituents and the environment from the toxic effects of mercury,” said Aileen Lucero, Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
