In cooperation with regional & local health departments have identified 44 confirmed cases and another 54 potential cases of mercury poisoning in six Texas counties. Nearly all individuals have reported using Crema Aguamary face and/or eye creams, manufactured in Mexico. Six individuals in the El Paso area have reported used Crema Antiedad y Desmanchadora, a nearly identical product. Samples of these creams submitted to the DSHS Laboratory contained up to 130,000 parts per million (ppm) mercury (13%) by weight, a level much higher than the FDA limit of 1 ppm.
Signs and symptoms frequently reported by cream users include:
• personality changes,
• nervousness,
• irritability,
• tremors,
• weakness,
• fatigue,
• excessive sweating,
• mouth, tongue, or gum ulcers/sores,
• elevated blood pressure,
• memory loss,
• pins-and-needles sensations in extremities,
• severe pains or cramps in arms and/or legs,
• muscle aches,
• excess protein in the urine,
• renal failure.
Patients who have used Aguamary or Antiedad creams should stop using the creams and should be tested for blood and/or urine mercury. Physicians or their patients may call the Texas Poison Control Network at: (800) 222-1222 regarding treatment recommendations.
DSHS encourages all Health Alert and Communications Coordinator to distribute to:
Physicians, Hospitals/Emergency Rooms, Epidemiologists, Environmental Health Directors, LRNs Border Health, Public Health Officers, Medical Directors, Health Officers in your area.
FYI: There are no confirmed cases in Fort Bend County or Region 6/5 South associated with face cream usage. However, there is one confirmed exposure in Harris County who self-reported after learning about the mercury investigation. A sample taken from that cream, yielded a mercury level higher than the FDA limit.
The major cluster of positive lab test results is in the Valley (Region 11) where 16 peoples submitted their samples of the beauty cream for mercury testing and 6 out of 16 had levels of mercury higher than the FDA limit. The face creams were manufactured in Mexico and were obtained via mail order or with travelers who purchased the products in Mexico.
A Health alert has already been sent to local physicians including those who practice in Fort Bend County, to remind them about the signs and symptoms of Mercury poisoning so they could possibly consider that option in their differential if suspicions arise.
printer friendly