The EcoWaste Coalition has issued a stern warning regarding the health hazards posed by lead in painted stainless steel tumblers marketed for children. The organization’s recent tests, conducted using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) screening, revealed alarmingly high lead concentrations in tumblers bought from retail outlets in Manila and Mandaue City, Cebu. Among the tested items, a tumbler adorned with a teddy bear design was found to contain lead at a staggering 32,820 parts per million (ppm). Other tumblers, featuring popular characters like Felix the Cat and Pompompurin, showed lead levels of 12,320 ppm and 4,060 ppm, respectively. Additionally, a tumbler inscribed with ‘Future Life’ registered 27,560 ppm of lead. These figures significantly surpass the 90 ppm threshold established by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under its Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds. The regulation, which eliminated lead from decorative and industrial paints in 2016 and 2019, also bans its use in school supplies and other children’s products. The EcoWaste Coalition highlighted the risk of paint deterioration and chipping, which could lead to ingestion and pose serious health risks to children. The World Health Organization has noted that lead exposure can result in irreversible damage, including cognitive and behavioral issues. In response, the EcoWaste Coalition is calling for stricter enforcement of lead limits, accountability from importers, and a ban on hazardous chemicals in children’s products. The group also urged parents to be vigilant about the safety of products they buy for their children.
EcoWaste Coalition Raises Alarm Over Dangerous Lead Levels in Children’s Painted Tumblers
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