Does low mercury containing skin-lightening cream (fair & lovely) affect the kidney, liver, and brain of female mice?

• Published in: Cutaneous and ocular toxicology Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 11
• Main Authors: Al-Saleh, Iman, El-Doush, Inaam, Shinwari, Neptune, Al-Baradei, Raid, Khogali, Fathia, Al-Amodi, Mona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 2005
• ISSN: 1556-9527
• DOI: 10.1081/CUS-200046179

Fair & Lovely is an over-the-counter skin-lightening cream sold widely in Saudi markets. Its mercury content is 0.304+/-0.316 microg/g, in the range of 0.102 to 0.775 microg/g. This study was designed to evaluate its toxic effects on mice. The cream was applied on mice for a period of 1 month at different intervals. Mercury levels were measured in the liver, kidney, and brain tissue samples of a total of 75 adult female CD1 mice by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer coupled to a Vapor Generator Accessory. The mean mercury concentrations in the tissues of the treated mice were 0.193+/-0.319 microg/g; whereas for the control group, it was 0.041 microg/g+/-0.041microg/g. While the kidney was found to have the highest mercury content, the brain was found to have the lowest content. Treated mice showed a significant reduction in body weight. Marked histological changes were clearly noted in the kidney and, to a lesser extent, in the brain and liver. These results indicate that although Fair & Lovely mercury content is less than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permissible limits histopathological changes in the brain, kidney, and liver tissues are evidence of its possible toxicity.