A cosmetic product, called Rose Super White Whitening Essence, comprising two kinds of cream respectively for day and night use, contains unsafe levels of mercury and could lead to mercury poisoning, the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said Monday.

A woman, aged 35, was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on March 27 for generalized swelling and foamy urine and was discharged on April 15. She developed the symptoms again and was admitted to the hospital, the Department said.

Laboratory examination showed a high level of mercury in the woman's blood and urine, the Department of Health said, without giving further details of the patient.

The level of mercury in the day and night Cream was respectively 1.6 and 10,000 times that of the acceptable level, according to confirmed test results.

Investigations by the Department of Health revealed that the woman had used the product obtained from her friends for about six months before she developed the symptoms.

She was discharged on April 21 in stable condition.

The Department of Health has referred the case to the Customs and Excise Department for follow-up action. According to preliminary enquiries by the Customs and Excise Department, the product was not found on the Hong Kong market.

The department urged users of the cosmetic cream, if there were any, to stop using it immediately and seek advice from their doctors as soon as possible.

Mercury poisoning was caused by overdose of mercury, causing damage mainly to the nervous systems and kidneys. Symptoms may include tremor, irritability, insomnia, memory deterioration, difficulty with concentrating, impaired hearing and vision or change in taste. In most severe cases, kidney failure may occur.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2008)