Environmental Groups Call for Ban on Mercury-Laced Cosmetics in Davao City
Pressenza
- Two environmental health groups, IDIS and the EcoWaste Coalition, have urged Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte to stop the illegal sale of mercury-laced skin-lightening products.
- Investigations identified three stores in the Uyanguren shopping hub selling banned cosmetic products from Pakistan, Thailand, and China.
- These products violate the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive and the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which prohibits mercury-added cosmetics.
Identified Products
- Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene
- Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream
- Goree 24K Gold Beauty Cream
- 88 Total White Underarm Cream
- S’Zitang (two variants)
- Jiaoli (two variants)
Health and Environmental Risks
- Mercury exposure through skin absorption or inhalation can lead to skin discoloration, rashes, and damage to the kidneys, brain, and central nervous system.
- Non-users, particularly children, face risks through contact with contaminated items or mercury vapors.
- Wastewater runoff from washing these products off contaminates water bodies and the marine food chain.
Proposed Actions
- Conduct random store inspections to confiscate and dispose of illicit products.
- Enact an Executive Order or City Ordinance to prohibit the sale of these hazardous cosmetics permanently.
- Promote public awareness to discourage the use of skin-whitening products.