Metal Contamination in Toys – Buyer Beware!

I have previously written a blog post on a topic raised by my close friend and colleague, Dr. Tom Murphy, – the disturbing issue of Mercury Contamination of Skin Whitening Creams, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.   Tom is a leader in reporting on important issues of contaminants in foods and consumer products, and he has also published […]

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Who’s the Fairest of Them All? Those with Mercury Poisoning from Skin Lighteners, That’s Who!

I am shifting gears with this blog post, away from HSE issues to discuss an easily preventable health issue, namely that associated with the widespread use of skin whitening products containing mercury.My close friend and colleague, Dr. Tom Murphy, recently published an interesting paper on this subject entitled Mercury Contamination of Skin Whitening Creams, Phnom […]

Asia’s Arsenic Poisoning Crisis – What You Need to Know and What You Can Do About It

What some are calling the largest mass poisoning in history is happening literally under our feet!  According to researchers from the University of California and Linkoping University, Sweden, “Bangladesh is grappling with the largest mass poisoning of a population in history because groundwater used for drinking has been contaminated with naturally occurring inorganic arsenic. It […]

Lead Exposure in the Workplace – Is This Really a Problem and Who is at Risk?

Occupational health issues are typically ignored by the vast majority of workers and businesses operating in developing countries, especially for those issues where exposure to toxins may take years to exhibit symptoms.  There are multiple reasons for this, including behavioural, cultural and socio-economic.  Regardless of the reason, the result is the same – workers are […]