Lead found in children's art stickers

An environmental group on Monday warned against cheap children's stickers available around Metro Manila after finding these positive with lead content.

 

EcoWaste Coalition said it detected lead in nine sets of colorful stickers it bought from Quiapo, Manila City and Cubao in Quezon City.

 

The group said these stickers feature popular cartoon figures, superheroes, and animals and flowers.

It said these cost from P7 to P40 per set, with each set having as many as 116 stickers.

 

Coordinator Anthony Dizon said a device they used detected 508 to 670 parts per million (ppm) of lead, which is "way above the regulatory limits.”

 

According to the group, the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act imposes a limit of 90 ppm for lead in surface coatings and 100 ppm limit on lead in a product’s substrate in art materials for children 12 years or younger.

 

The Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources bans lead in making children’s products such as toys and school supplies.

 

Dizon said children may bite, chew or swallow the stickers and ingest the "brain-damaging" lead and other chemicals in the stickers. —Joel Locsin/ALG, GMA News