Environmentalists urged gov’t to craft safety standards for tumblers

EcoWaste Coalition, a network of environmental protection advocates, on Monday urged the government to work on implementing policies on product safety standards for stainless tumblers as some were found to contain a heavy metal harmful to humans.

In a statement, EcoWaste said 16 of the 40 tumblers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces were found with paint that contain a metal called lead that is above the allowed 90 parts per million (ppm) limit.

“Of these 16 lead-painted tumblers, nine were analyzed to contain lead ranging from 11,270 ppm to 93,700 ppm. The rest had 1,188 ppm to 9,630 ppm of lead,” EcoWaste said.

The Coalition added that the 24 other tumblers tested negative for lead prove that products can be coated with safe materials.

The group warned that children are at risk of ingesting lead, as the paint on the tumbler may chip over time.

EcoWaste also urged importers and distributors to require suppliers that show proof of compliance with the 90 ppm limit for lead in paint.

Suppliers should also help consumers by providing “lead-safe” labeling information on their products, EcoWaste said, adding that there should be prompt withdrawal of non-compliant lead-painted tumblers.

“Only tumblers that have passed third-party material, insulation, temperature retention, corrosion resistance, leak-proof and durability tests should be permitted to enter the domestic market,” EcoWaste Coalition said. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News