Deadly skin whitening
A recent study by a coalition of NGOs from around the world, the Zero Mercury Working Group, has found that levels of mercury in skin-whitening products being sold in the country are dangerously high—ranging from 90 to 16,000 times higher than the 1ppm (parts per million) limit set by 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury. Given the deadly nature of mercury, which has the potential to cause permanent skin damage, kidney failure, skin cancer and other fatal diseases, this signifies a gross failure of the Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute (BSTI).
The group's study found that of the 32 samples used in their tests, 50 percent contained more than 1ppm mercury. And even though Bangladesh is a signatory to the Minamata Convention, it is yet to ratify it. The BSTI claims that their hands are tied since the government allows import of specialised whitening and other medicated creams.
Three crucial factors need to be addressed here immediately, because ultimately this boils down to an issue of public health. Firstly, the government and BSTI need to come to a decision that import and sales of such products with absurdly high levels of mercury content need to be banned. The BSTI must take the initiative to convince the government that these products are not safe. Secondly, Bangladesh should initiate the process of ratifying the Minamata Convention, which would entail banning the use of mercury in products above 1ppm after 2020. Lastly, it is for the government to address through awareness campaigns our cultural perception that "fair is better"—and that dark skin is somehow worse than fair skin. Curbing the demand side for such products is crucial, because ultimately it is our cultural prejudice which fuels the sales.
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