A woman died after using hemorrhoid ointment laced with toxic metal.
The patient, who lived in Sacramento, California, had purchased the treatment on Facebook, which was then mailed to the United States from Vietnam.
But after using the cream she suffered “severe lead poisoning,” authorities said, which, in severe cases, can cause seizures, swelling of the brain and organ failure.
Tests revealed that the product contained four percent lead, several thousand times above the safe limit.
It comes amid recalls of a variety of lead-tainted products in the US, including baby applesauce pouches, sippy cups and even warnings about dark chocolate.
Authorities in Sacramento, California, have issued an alert about the aforementioned cream being sold on Facebook, after a woman died after using the product.
The photo above shows the cream called Cao Boi Tri Cay Thau Dau, which the woman had used.
Authorities are urging people not to buy the treatment, called Cao Boi Tri Cay Thau Dau, and to throw away any product they have at home.
The case was revealed in an alert about the cream in Sacramento.
But other details, such as the woman’s name or when she was hospitalized, were not revealed.
Authorities said the cream was mainly sold on Vietnamese-language Facebook groups as a supposed “miracle” treatment for hemorrhoids.
The woman had asked a relative to pick up the cream before mailing it to the United States, authorities said.
‘If you or someone you know uses this [product]”Officials said, “We strongly recommend discontinuing use immediately and consulting a healthcare provider for lead testing.”
Authorities said the cream was mainly sold on Vietnamese-language Facebook groups as a supposed “miracle” treatment for hemorrhoids.
The maximum safe level of lead in cosmetics is 10 parts per million (ppm), according to the FDA. But the cream was found to contain 39,000 ppm of lead, equivalent to 3,900 times the safe limit.
The California Department of Public Health issued an alert about the ointment on April 10.
At least 10 million Americans suffer from hemorrhoids each year, or swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum that can cause discomfort and pain.
Doctors say they can be caused by straining during bowel movements, chronic constipation, obesity, and even sitting for long periods.
There are several over-the-counter treatment options available in the US, including Anusol, which can cost $20 per tube.
Authorities warn that consuming lead in any amount represents a health risk.
This is because it is easily absorbed into the bloodstream and then travels throughout the body where it can wreak havoc on organs.
They said it can disrupt communication between nerves and the lining of the brain, causing a variety of neurological problems including memory loss, muscle pain and severe headaches.
Lead can also bind to red blood cells and prevent them from carrying oxygen, leaving sufferers at risk of organ failure.
Lead poisoning is particularly dangerous in children and pregnant women, and is linked to a host of problems, including delayed development in babies.
Sources of lead poisoning can include paint, drinking water if it has passed through lead-lined pipes, and some cosmetics.