CHP warns of three skin whitening creams containing excessive mercury

Citizens were urged to stop using three types of unsafe whitening products as they were found to contain excessive levels of mercury, which can be harmful to health.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health was notified by the Hospital Authority about a case of mercury poisoning involving a 43-year-old female patient.

She was diagnosed with proteinuria after using two skin-whitening cream products for a few weeks, and her urine and blood samples were found to have mercury levels exceeding the reference ranges.

The patient is still hospitalized and in stable condition.

The Government Laboratory tested one of the products -- labeled as "Goree Beauty Cream" --  the patient used and found that the mercury level in the product exceeded the maximum permitted limit by 23,000 times. 

A total of 352 boxes of the three types of whitening creams were seized from a retailer in Central, where a 40-year-old man-in-charge and a 45-year-old saleswoman were arrested in a follow-up investigation. 

The CHP spokesman stated that long-term exposure to mercury can damage the nervous system and kidneys, with symptoms including tremors, irritability, insomnia, memory loss, concentration difficulty, hearing and vision impairment, and changes in taste. Severe cases can lead to kidney failure.