Mercury Should Be Banned For Cosmetic Products

Do you know that you are taking a risk of obtaining cancer and disease every morning when you put on your skin-care and makeup? We all know mercury is often used in all kinds of measuring equipment. Mercury is a highly toxic element that is found both naturally and as an introduced contaminant in the environment (EA, Alhibshi). However, this element is even used in cosmetic products as well. Scientists testing on 73 different cosmetics including face and lip products have found that 44% of face creams and 43% of lipsticks have mercury (Greenfield, Paige). Not only does it damage our skin and heath but it will also harm our children and environment. Therefore, mercury should be banned in cosmetic products.

Mercury is a natural resource and a chemical element. As other metallic chemicals, mercury exists in three forms: pure mercury, inorganic mercury, and organic mercury (Risher, John). Pure mercury is a silver colored liquid metal that is usually used in manufacturing thermometers due to its sensitivity to temperature. Inorganic mercury, also called mercury salt, is a type of mercury that combines with other non-metals to form mercury compounds. Organic mercury is a type of compound that results when mercury is combined with carbon (Risher, John). It usually exists in white solid form. All forms of mercury have no practical benefit to human body health, and most of them are poisonous to human bodies (Risher, John).

Massive production of mercury contributes a lot of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which causes global warming. Mercury occurs naturally in coal. “Most global mercury pollution comes from coal fired power plants, which release mercury into the air. Other significant sources are industrial processes such as chemica...

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... and avoiding intimate contact with infants and younger children while wearing makeup. Also the government should push forward the process of installation of filters for coal combustion exhaust funnels. Maybe we always think ourselves as an individual species that stands out of biosphere, and get no influence from anything that happens inside there. It is time to learn to be humble to nature, because we are indeed the part of it. Like Leopold said in his article, “a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it. It implies respect for his fellow-members, and also respect for the community as such.” (Aldo, Leopold). I wish this community we are living can be poison free, and that all the ladies out there do not have to concern themselves with what product they are putting on the face anymore.