DOES LOW MERCURY CONTAINING SKIN-LIGHTENING CREAM (FAIR & LOVELY) AFFECT THE KIDNEY, LIVER, AND BRAIN OF FEMALE MICE?
Authors:
Iman Al-Saleh a;
Inaam El-Doush a;
Neptune Shinwari a;
Raid Al-Baradei a;
Fathia Khogali b;
Mona Al-Amodi b
| Affiliations: | a Biological & Medical Research Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| b Departments of Science and Medical Studies for Women, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
DOI:
10.1081/CUS-200046179
Publication Frequency:
4 issues per year
Formats available:
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Previously published as:
Journal of Toxicology: Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology
(0731-3829)
until 2005
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Abstract
Fair & Lovely is an over-the-counter skin-lightening cream sold widely in Saudi markets. Its mercury content is 0.304±0.316 μg/g, in the range of 0.102 to 0.775 μg/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 μg/g; whereas for the control group, it was 0.041 μg/g±0.041μg/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.
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| Keywords: Mercury; Mice; Kidney; Liver; Brain; Histopathological effects; Fair & Lovely creams |
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