Amazon, EBay accused of selling cosmetics with high mercury levels

An Amazon spokeswoman said the products are prohibited and 'are no longer available'

Online marketplaces Amazon.com Inc. and EBay Inc. are entering the holiday shopping season fending off reports about products with high mercury levels being sold on their websites, yet more evidence that the convenience of online shopping carries product safety risks.

Activist groups including the Sierra Club purchased 158 skin-lightening products from Amazon and EBay marketplaces in 12 countries -- including the U.S. -- and found 60% were contaminated by mercury.

“One major problem is that none of the products list mercury as an ingredient on the label, so it is impossible for an individual to know the product could be