Group warns vs. toxic candles for Undas

With just over a week to go before Undas (All Saints' and All Souls' Days), an ecological group warned the public against using toxic candles – such as imported Chinese candles with metal wicks – in paying respects to their dearly departed.

The EcoWaste Coalition said such candles are banned in many countries due to the risk of lead poisoning, but are still being sold in Manila's Binondo district.

It said the candles were placed on gourd- and pineapple-shaped glass containers, and were sold in shops selling Chinese prayer articles.

According to the group, it bought 15 pairs of red, white and yellow paraffin wax candles with metal wicks at P150 per pair.

Citing analysis by a laboratory, it said 20 candles had 207,350 parts per million (ppm) of lead in their composite wicks.

But coordinator Anthony Dizon said most candles in the market, especially those made locally, use cotton wicks and pose no risk of lead pollution.

Illegal elsewhere

The group noted such candles would be illegal in Australia, which banned candles with leaded wicks in 1999.

Finland did the same thing in 2001, Denmark in 2002 and the United States in 2003, it added.

The group urged the Food and Drug Administration to ban the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of  such candles with lead-containing wicks.

Safety tips

Meanwhile, the group also issued safety tips for Undas: