Growing concern about exposure to mercury from skin-lightening creams led St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health, MDH, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to test these products. Of 27 products tested, 11 contained mercury. Efforts were initiated to remove these illegal products from retail shelves. St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health has raised community awareness, particularly among Somali women, about using these products. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the U.S. - an estimated 50,000. Currently, no information is available on mercury levels in Somali women or newborns in Minnesota. In other states, elevated mercury levels in women who used skin-lightening creams have been found using biomonitoring studies.

WEBINAR REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Register at http://tinyurl.com/mdhmercury

JOIN US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT:

• St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health's investigation and efforts to inform the Somali community
• A new effort by MDH's Minnesota Biomonitoring: Chemicals in People that will investigate disparities in chemical exposures among different populations, including mercury exposures in women and newborns.

PRESENTERS:

Amira Adawe: Health Educator, St Paul-Ramsey County Public Health
Jessica Nelson: Program Coordinator and Epidemiologist, Minnesota Biomonitoring: Chemicals in People.