High levels of mercury found in made-in-China cosmetics products

By Keat Min Woo

High levels of mercury were found in some cosmetics products imported from China, South Korea's consumer protection agency announced on Jan. 17.

Of 21 made-in-China cosmetics products tested, 3 contained much higher levels of mercury than South Korea's legal limit of 1 parts per million (ppm), the Korea Consumer Agency said.

"Vision" cream which was sold at the Kukje Market in Busan and "Qu Ban Gao" at the Namdaemun Market in Seoul had 15,698 ppm and 120 to 5,212 ppm of mercury, respectively, the agency said. "Melanin Treatment" contained 574 ppm of mercury.

These products were sold at low prices ranging from 10,000 won to 20,000 won at markets nationwide, it said.

Mercury is added as an ingredient to skin brightening cosmetics because of its function to stop the production of melanin pigments, which causes the skin to be dark. Due to its toxic characteristics, the use of mercury in cosmetics has been banned in many countries.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com