Skin Creams & Mercury Exposure

Local public health response & MDH biomonitoring

**Please note the correct day for the webinar: WEDNESDAY, March 12, 12PM - 1PM CDT.**

Please join the Minnesota Environmental Public Health Tracking Program via webinar or in person at the Minnesota Department of Health, Freeman Building, 625 Robert St N., St Paul, MN in Rooms B107 and B108 (Directions and parking information).

Growing concern about exposure to mercury from skin-lightening creams led St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to  test these products. Of 27 products tested, 11 contained mercury. Efforts were initiated to remove the 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.

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. 

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Go to https://health-state-mn-ustraining.webex.com/health-state-mn-ustraining/j.php?ED=158665017&RG=1&UID=0&RT=MiM3 
2. Register for the meeting. 

Once your registration is approved, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the webinar.

After joining the webinar, you will be connected to audio using your computer's microphone and speakers (VoIP). A headset is recommended. Or, you may select the "use telephone" option in the AUDIO section of the control panel. Next, dial the call-in number, enter the passcode, and, when prompted, enter the Audio PIN displayed in the control panel. 

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

• PC: Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, or 2003 Server
• MAC: Mac OS X 10.6 or newer
• Mobile: iPhone, iPad, Android phone or Android tablet

Minnesota Biomonitoring: Chemicals in People works in collaboration with the MN Environmental Public Health Tracking Program to measure levels of chemicals in Minnesotans and whether exposures differ between groups over time. This program was established in 2007 by the Minnesota Statutes.