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Updated
Reading 2 mins.
in collaboration with
Catherine Albou Ganem (ophthalmic surgeon)
Medical validation:
December 02, 2022
If cases of mercury contamination seem extremely rare, the adverse effects can prove to be permanent.
It’s a spine-chilling story. In Minnesota, a woman suffered severe vision loss from exposure to mercury. According to CNN, beauty creams are probably involved.
Mercury poisoning
According to a report shared by Dr. Erin Batdorff with the Minnesota Poison Control System, the mother-of-one suffered from insomnia, leg pain, muscle weakness, fatigue and loss of peripheral vision.
And for good reason: the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) found high levels of mercury in its children’s bedrooms (up to 400 ng/m3), bedding, but also linens (up to 600 mg /m3) and the laundry area.
Clinical tests also revealed high levels of mercury in the young woman’s blood and urine (9 times higher than normal).
“There’s no way [pour les consommateurs] to know if [le mercure] is in the creams or not because it’s not on the labels“, tells CNN Dr. Erin Batdorff, a researcher in medical toxicology who examined the young woman at home.
If the young woman’s vision loss remains a particularly “rare” and severe symptom, the effects are permanent.
“She won’t get her vision back“, confirms the doctor to CNN.
In France, very few cosmetic products contain mercury
If, in France, products containing mercury are prohibited, mascara and other eye makeup seem to have slipped through the cracks.
According to the Minamata Convention (2013), they are indeed not concerned by this prohibition “because no safe and effective alternative alternatives are available.”
So, should we be worried about it? According to Dr. Albou-Ganem, ophthalmologist, the answer is no.
“Excluding allergies, it is extremely rare to suffer from eye damage caused by mascara or any other cosmetic product.” says the expert. “On the other hand, preservatives, perfumes and allergens in cosmetics can indeed cause inconvenience: redness, draped eyelids, tingling, etc. In the event of a reaction, immediately rinse the eye with clear water, remove the allergenic product and consult quickly an ophthalmologist – who will prescribe anti-allergic eye drops.”