Group: Toxic chemicals found in painted drinking glasses, some Xmas items

 

"we call on consumers to be vigilant in buying gift items for the holidays," said Anthony Dizon, the EcoWaste Coalition's Project Protect coordinator, in an interview on dzBB radio Sunday.

He also appealed to lawmakers to lay down safety standards.

According to him, his group is leaving to the Food and Drug Administration the task of testing items for potential contamination.

 

Moreover, he said lawmakers must determine a set of safety standards to guide government agencies in testing and seizing potentially harmful items.

 

Earlier, the group warned the public when 32 of the 50 potential gift items it subjected to chemical analysis were found containing toxic metals.

 

“This is the outrageous truth that we have discovered after subjecting 50 product samples to chemical analysis. 64 percent or 32 of the 50 samples we tested contain mind-boggling amounts of toxic metals such as lead that are totally unacceptable for products meant to spread Christmas cheer,” Dizon said.

 

EcoWaste cited Dr. Bessie Antonio, president of the Philippine Society of Clinical and Occupational Toxicology (PSCOT), who said lead in consumer products can endanger human health, especially among children.

 

She said lead exposure can "damage the brain, lower a child's intelligence, decrease a child's attention span and cause delays in a child's speaking, reading and learning skills."

 

The group bought the sample items from street vendors along Carriedo St. in Quiapo, Rizal Ave., Santa Cruz and Juan Luna St., Divisoria in Manila.

 

EcoWaste said the probe was conducted also to draw attention to the United Nations-recognized “Universal Children’s Day,” which was observed on November 20.

 

It said the samples were mostly imported from China, and were bought and tested for heavy metals last November 18 by Engineer Ramir Castro of QES (Manila), Inc. using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) chemical analyzer.

 

The group noted none of the products indicated toxic ingredients on their labels, which it added were generally incomplete or totally lacking.

 

Painted drinking glasses

 

Painted drinking glasses and mugs topped the list of “dirtiest” products with 14 out of the 16 glass samples containing lead – up to 44,400 parts per million (ppm) – way above the 90 ppm threshold under the US Consumer Product Improvement Act of 2008.

 

Many of the painted glasses and mugs were also found to contain antimony, arsenic, cadmium and chromium above levels of concern and thus increasing the chances of multiple exposure to hazardous chemicals.

 

Yet EcoWaste noted these items are sold between P20 to P100 each, and are among the "favorite" holiday gift or give-away items due to their low prices and attractive designs.  

“This shocking eye-opener is truly worrisome as lead in painted glassware comes in direct contact with a child’s mouth and posing a serious health risk,” Dizon said.

 

EcoWaste said the "top 10" products in terms of lead content were all painted glasses and mugs. They included:

 

1. “Sloop Glass Collection” with giraffe (P100), with toxicity of 44,400 ppm

 

2. “Especially For You Glass” with bear and blue glass cover (P60), 34,300 ppm

 

3. “Angry Birds Glass” (P80), 32,900 ppm

 

4. An unbranded glass with flower design (P20), 32,800 ppm

 

5. “Angry Birds Glass” with sticker and spoon (P75), 30,600 ppm

 

6. “Love Life Angry Birds Cup” with orange glass cover (P60), 26,400ppm

 

7. An unbranded coffee mug with Santa Claus design (P50), 25,300 ppm

 

8. “Especially For You Glass” with Snoopy character and red glass cover (P60), 23,700 ppm

 

9. “Angry Birds Coffee Mug” (P80), 22,300 ppm

 

10. An unbranded coffee mug with sheep design (P80), 20,700 ppm

 

EcoWaste said health experts have confirmed and warned that there is no safe threshold for lead exposure, especially for children whose minds and bodies are still developing.

 

It added children are most vulnerable to being exposed to lead and other poisons due to their normal hand-to-mouth activities that cause the direct ingestion of health damaging substances.

 

“Given the practical limitations of our consumers and governmental authorities, we appeal to manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers and vendors not to market and sell toys and other Christmas gift items unless they have undergone rigorous testing and have been certified safe for children to play or use,” EcoWaste said.

 

“Paint used to decorate glasses, mugs and other containers for food and beverage must be lead-free and food-safe,” it added. — LBG, GMA News