Al-Marsad Newspaper: An American woman partially lost her sight and unintentionally put her entire family at risk of mercury poisoning by using cosmetic creams that contain high levels of a toxic chemical.
Traces of mercury were found in children’s bedrooms, beds, towels, and the laundry area, according to a report published by the American “CNN” network. According to Sky News
The report, published by Dr. Irene Batdorf, who works for the “Poison Control System” in Minnesota, USA, revealed the comprehensive symptoms that the woman suffered from.
She explained that “the most common symptom of possible mercury poisoning is a feeling of tingling or numbness in the patient’s hands or feet.” She described the woman’s loss of her sight as “a more serious and permanent symptom,” pointing out that the woman “will not regain her sight.”
– “There are likely to be many people who are exposed to toxic levels of mercury, and they don’t show symptoms, or at least not yet,” says the toxicologist.
At high levels, the inorganic mercury commonly found in these products is highly toxic, and chronic exposure can lead to kidney and liver damage.
– It also leads to neurological damage, including personality changes, anxiety and depression, and, as in the case of women, blindness.
Experts believe that the source of mercury in the incident that occurred with the woman was the cosmetic creams, many of which were for skin whitening, which were found in the family home.
The agency found that the amount of mercury in two of these products was several thousand higher than permissible levels, but no mercury was indicated as an ingredient in the products, according to the team.