Prohibited heavy metals found in cosmetics

A new study has found mercury in fairness creams and chromium and nickel in lipsticks.

Centre for Science and Environment's director general Sunita Narain said that Mercury is not supposed to be present in cosmetic products and their presence in these products is completely illegal and unlawful.

CSE's Pollution Monitoring Lab found mercury in 44 per cent of the fairness creams tested, chromium in 50 per cent and nickel in 43 per cent of the lipstick samples it tested.

Mercury is universally recognized as a neurotoxin and is extremely toxic and chromium is carcinogenic, and their use in cosmetics is prohibited in India.

Chandra Bhushan, CSE deputy director general and head of the lab said that this sector has extremely weak regulations and almost no enforcement of the laws that exist which is why some companies are getting away with flouting the law.

However, lead and cadmium were not found in any cosmetic products.