{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T08:55:45Z","timestamp":1790585745847,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]],"date-time":"2026-07-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784764800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.springernature.com\/gp\/researchers\/text-and-data-mining"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]],"date-time":"2026-07-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784764800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.springernature.com\/gp\/researchers\/text-and-data-mining"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biol Trace Elem Res"],"DOI":"10.1007\/s12011-026-05237-9","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,22]],"date-time":"2026-07-22T23:09:44Z","timestamp":1784761784000},"page":"7976-7988","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Health and Regulatory Assessment of Hydroquinone, Mercury and Steroids in Skin-Lightening Creams Marketed in Pakistan"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"204","author":[{"given":"Mahnoor","family":"Shujait","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"Nawaz Ch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Naqi","family":"Hussain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"5237_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.1186\/s40064-016-1967-1","volume":"5","author":"ES Agorku","year":"2016","unstructured":"Agorku ES, Kwaansa-Ansah EE, Voegborlo RB, Amegbletor P, Opoku F (2016) Mercury and hydroquinone content of skin toning creams and cosmetic soaps, and the potential risks to the health of Ghanaian women. SpringerPlus 5(1):319","journal-title":"SpringerPlus"},{"issue":"1","key":"5237_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s40543-018-0162-0","volume":"10","author":"MF Alam","year":"2019","unstructured":"Alam MF, Akhter M, Mazumder B, Ferdous A, Hossain MD, Dafader NC, Ahmed FT, Kundu SK, Taheri T, Ullah A (2019) A. K. M. Assessment of some heavy metals in selected cosmetics commonly used in Bangladesh and human health risk. J Anal Sci Technol 10(1):1\u20138","journal-title":"J Anal Sci Technol"},{"issue":"2","key":"5237_CR3","first-page":"130","volume":"6","author":"R Ali","year":"2024","unstructured":"Ali R, Ahmida NHS, Ambarak M, Busaadia S, El-Zwaey RS, Towier NH, Ahmida MH (2024) Advanced journal of chemistry-section B natural products and medical chemistry citation: The health risk assessment of some toxic metals in some commonly demand facial cosmetics in Benghazi-Libya markets during 2022. Adv J Chem Sect B Nat Prod Med Chem 6(2):130\u2013139","journal-title":"Adv J Chem Sect B Nat Prod Med Chem"},{"issue":"1","key":"5237_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1159\/000541141","volume":"16","author":"S Alsuwaidan","year":"2024","unstructured":"Alsuwaidan S, Nagshabandi KN, Alajlan A (2024) Severe Nodulocystic Acne Induced by Mercury-Containing Skin-Whitening Cream: A Case Report and Call for Public Awareness. Case Rep Dermatol 16(1):216\u2013220","journal-title":"Case Rep Dermatol"},{"issue":"7","key":"5237_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"779","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsps.2020.05.006","volume":"28","author":"H Arshad","year":"2020","unstructured":"Arshad H, Mehmood MZ, Shah MH, Abbasi AM (2020) Evaluation of heavy metals in cosmetic products and their health risk assessment. Saudi Pharm J 28(7):779\u2013790","journal-title":"Saudi Pharm J"},{"key":"5237_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Arshad M, Sadef Y, Shakoor MB, Naeem M, Bashir F, Ahmad SR, Ali S, Abid I, Khan N, Alyemeni MN (2021) Quantitative estimation of the hydroquinone, mercury and total plate count in skin-lightening creams. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(16)","DOI":"10.3390\/su13168786"},{"issue":"9","key":"5237_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3562","DOI":"10.1007\/s12011-020-02441-z","volume":"199","author":"T Ashraf","year":"2021","unstructured":"Ashraf T, Taneez M, Kalsoom S, Irfan T, Shafique MA (2021) Experimental calculations of metals content in skin-whitening creams and theoretical investigation for their biological effect against tyrosinase enzyme. Biol Trace Elem Res 199(9):3562\u20133569","journal-title":"Biol Trace Elem Res"},{"key":"5237_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bilal M, Mehmood S, Iqbal HMN (2020) The beast of beauty: Environmental and health concerns of toxic components in cosmetics. In Cosmetics (Vol. 7, Issue 1)","DOI":"10.3390\/cosmetics7010013"},{"issue":"5","key":"5237_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1170","DOI":"10.1039\/C5AY02207J","volume":"8","author":"F Galimany-Rovira","year":"2016","unstructured":"Galimany-Rovira F, P\u00e9rez-Lozano P, Su\u00f1\u00e9-Negre JM, Garc\u00eda-Montoya E, Mi\u00f1arro M, Tic\u00f3 JR (2016) Development and validation of a new RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone, kojic acid, octinoxate, avobenzone, BHA and BHT in skin-whitening cream. Anal Methods 8(5):1170\u20131180","journal-title":"Anal Methods"},{"key":"5237_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"403","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2016.06.030","volume":"150","author":"MH Gbetoh","year":"2016","unstructured":"Gbetoh MH, Amyot M (2016) Mercury, hydroquinone and clobetasol propionate in skin lightening products in West Africa and Canada. Environ Res 150:403\u2013410","journal-title":"Environ Res"},{"issue":"1Part\u2013I","key":"5237_CR13","first-page":"128","volume":"40","author":"AN Ghouse","year":"2024","unstructured":"Ghouse AN, Ashraf E, Khan ZI, Sidiqqui S (2024) Obsession to fairness and topical steroid induced acne: A situation analysis of patients presenting in dermatology clinic at a private hospital in Karachi. Pakistan J Med Sci 40(1Part\u2013I):128","journal-title":"Pakistan J Med Sci"},{"key":"5237_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yrtph.2017.05.018","volume":"88","author":"Y Ho","year":"2017","unstructured":"Ho Y, Bin, Abdullah NH, Hamsan H, Tan ESS (2017) Mercury contamination in facial skin lightening creams and its health risks to user. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 88:72\u201376","journal-title":"Regul Toxicol Pharmacol"},{"issue":"1","key":"5237_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.2174\/1574886314666191001100357","volume":"15","author":"AA Jaccob","year":"2020","unstructured":"Jaccob AA, Yaqoub AA, Rahmani MA (2020) Impact of abuse of topical corticosteroids and counterfeit cosmetic products for the face: prospective demographic study in Basrah City, Iraq. Curr Drug Saf 15(1):25\u201331","journal-title":"Curr Drug Saf"},{"key":"5237_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1511493","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2024.1511493","volume":"11","author":"H Ji","year":"2024","unstructured":"Ji H, Chen Y, Liu D, Zhou T, Tang Y (2024) Diverse clinical manifestations and prognosis in a couple\u2019s mercury poisoning caused by skin-lightening creams: two case reports and literature review. Front Med 11:1511493","journal-title":"Front Med"},{"issue":"01","key":"5237_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.58397\/ashkmdc.v25i01.240","volume":"25","author":"M Kamran","year":"2020","unstructured":"Kamran M, Rahan R, Mubeen S, Obaid MS, Ahmed H, Fahmi S (2020) Comparative analysis of the anthropometric parameters among the ethnic groups of Karachi. Annals Abbasi Shaheed Hosp Karachi Med Dent Coll 25(01):28\u201334","journal-title":"Annals Abbasi Shaheed Hosp Karachi Med Dent Coll"},{"issue":"5","key":"5237_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"515","DOI":"10.4103\/ijdvl.IJDVL_53_18","volume":"86","author":"SV Karekar","year":"2020","unstructured":"Karekar SV (2020) Misuse of topical corticosteroids: A growing concern. Indian J Dermatology Venereol Leprology 86(5):515\u2013520","journal-title":"Indian J Dermatology Venereol Leprology"},{"key":"5237_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.2147\/CCID.S270667","volume":"14","author":"NH Khan","year":"2021","unstructured":"Khan NH, Ullah F, Khan TA, Zafar U, Khan MFA, Mustaqeem M, Shah SS, Wu DD, Ji XY (2021) Personal-care cosmetic practices in pakistan: Current perspectives and management. Clin Cosmet Invest Dermatology 14:9\u201321","journal-title":"Clin Cosmet Invest Dermatology"},{"issue":"1","key":"5237_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.66344\/jpad.v31i1.1321","volume":"31","author":"T Majeed","year":"2021","unstructured":"Majeed T, Shah SH, Anjum I (2021) Estimation of mercury and hydroquinone content in skin whitening creams and the potential risks to the health of women in Lahore, Pakistan. J Pakistan Association Dermatologists 31(1):33\u201341","journal-title":"J Pakistan Association Dermatologists"},{"key":"5237_CR22","first-page":"21","volume":"6","author":"B Mansouri","year":"2018","unstructured":"Mansouri B, Davari B, Mahmodi M (2018) Health risk assessment of the concentration of trace elements in cosmetic products in Sanandaj, Iran. J Adv Environ Health Res 6:21\u201326","journal-title":"J Adv Environ Health Res"},{"issue":"8","key":"5237_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5539\/gjhs.v14n8p1","volume":"14","author":"M Masood","year":"2022","unstructured":"Masood M, Haque M, Rasheed A, Iqbal J, Batool A, Hussain A, Hasan Z (2022) Frequency of Use of Skin-Lightening Products, Levels of Self-Esteem and Colorism Attitudes in University Students of Karachi: A Cross-Sectional Study. Global J Health Sci 14(8):1","journal-title":"Global J Health Sci"},{"issue":"1","key":"5237_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"358","DOI":"10.1093\/ckj\/sfae358","volume":"18","author":"P Meena","year":"2025","unstructured":"Meena P, Das P, Rathore V, Panda S, Popa C (2025) Snow White\u2019s tale in nephrology: the emerging threat of skin-whitening creams on kidney health. Clin Kidney J 18(1):358","journal-title":"Clin Kidney J"},{"issue":"6","key":"5237_CR25","first-page":"675","volume":"62","author":"S Meena","year":"2017","unstructured":"Meena S, Gupta LK, Khare AK, Balai M, Mittal A, Mehta S, Bhatri G (2017) Topical corticosteroids abuse: A clinical study of cutaneous adverse effects. Indian J dermatology 62(6):675","journal-title":"Indian J dermatology"},{"issue":"3","key":"5237_CR26","first-page":"1","volume":"10","author":"MB Nasirudeen","year":"2015","unstructured":"Nasirudeen MB, Amaechi AU (2015) Spectrophotometric determination of heavy metals in cosmetics sourced from Kaduna Metropolis. Nigeria Sci world J 10(3):1\u20135","journal-title":"Nigeria Sci world J"},{"key":"5237_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Othman NN, Zakaria Z, Aziz A (2020) Legal control for the safety of cosmetic products application use in Malaysia. J Halal Industry Serv 3","DOI":"10.36877\/jhis.a0000080"},{"issue":"3","key":"5237_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.5812\/jjnpp-160628","volume":"20","author":"Z Pourjabbar","year":"2025","unstructured":"Pourjabbar Z, Badabi MN, Salami F, Sadeghi N, Amini M, Hajimahmoodi M (2025) Quantification of active ingredients in skin lightening creams using HPLC method in Iranian market. Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod 20(3):1","journal-title":"Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod"},{"key":"5237_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pramanik S, Kumar M, Qureshi A (2021) Mercury in skin-care products in India and consumer exposure risks. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 121","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yrtph.2021.104870"},{"issue":"2","key":"5237_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1132","DOI":"10.3329\/brc.v8i2.60644","volume":"8","author":"U Sarkar","year":"2022","unstructured":"Sarkar U, Md Faisal AR, Shekhar HU (2022) The presence of hydroquinone, and mercury in skin toning creams, as well as lead in turmeric powder, pose potential health risks to Bangladeshi women. Bioresearch Commun 8(2):1132\u20131142","journal-title":"Bioresearch Commun"},{"key":"5237_CR31","first-page":"1","volume":"31","author":"SH Shah","year":"2021","unstructured":"Shah SH, Anjum I, Majeed T (2021) Estimation of mercury and hydroquinone content in skin whitening creams and the potential risks to the health of women in Lahore, Pakistan. J Pakistan Assoc Dermatol 31:1","journal-title":"J Pakistan Assoc Dermatol"},{"issue":"3","key":"5237_CR32","first-page":"224","volume":"2","author":"S Siddique","year":"2012","unstructured":"Siddique S, Parveen Z, Ali Z, Zaheer M (2012) Qualitative and quantitative estimation of hydroquinone in skin whitening cosmetics. J Cosme Dermatol Sci Appl 2(3):224","journal-title":"J Cosmetics Dermatological Sci Appl"},{"issue":"9","key":"5237_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"855","DOI":"10.1001\/jamadermatol.2017.1615","volume":"153","author":"H Xie","year":"2017","unstructured":"Xie H, Xiao X, Li J (2017) Topical steroids in Chinese cosmetics. JAMA Dermatol 153(9):855\u2013856","journal-title":"JAMA Dermatology"}],"container-title":["Biological Trace Element Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s12011-026-05237-9.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s12011-026-05237-9","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s12011-026-05237-9.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T08:05:25Z","timestamp":1790582725000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s12011-026-05237-9"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]]},"references-count":30,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}},"alternative-id":["5237"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12011-026-05237-9","relation":{},"ISSN":["1559-0720"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1559-0720","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]]},"assertion":[{"value":"16 February 2026","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"10 July 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"23 July 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"No one was interviewed. The names of the manufacturing companies were not disclosed. No companies and their officers' names are given in the paper. This article was written based on my thesis, which was approved by the Committee of Advanced Studies and Research (CASR), the committee of the Lahore School of Economics.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"Ethics Approval<b>\/Internal Review Board<\/b>","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"As no human participants were involved in this study, Human Ethics and Consent to Participants declarations are not applicable.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","label":"Human Ethics and Consent","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","label":"Competing interests","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}}]}}