On 19 June 2025, a joint study by ESDO, EEB, and BAN Toxics revealed alarming findings in a media briefing at ESDO’s head office.
Toxic skin-lightening creams containing mercury are still being sold in the market and on online platforms in Bangladesh, posing a serious public health threat.
In tests conducted in 2024–2025, 22 out of 26 creams were found to contain mercury levels thousands of times higher than the safe international limit of 1 ppm. The highest recorded level was 24,800 ppm.
The research was conducted using advanced XRF technology, ensuring accurate detection of mercury. The press briefing was attended by representatives from BSTI, major media outlets, and teams from ESDO and BAN Toxics. Experts emphasized that addressing this issue requires collective efforts and widespread public awareness—it cannot be handled by a single entity alone.