Toxics watchdog EcoWaste Coalition on Friday, Oct. 11, issued a warning against high levels of lead-containing paints on reusable stainless steel water bottles and tumblers being sold in the market.
The group's call coincided with the observance of the Consumer Welfare Month this October and in anticipation of the upcoming International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week from October 20 to 26.
In a statement, the group called on authorities to enforce the lead paint standard to be used in water bottles and tumblers as well as removal of non-compliant products from the market including online shopping platforms.
The call for governmental action came in the wake of the group's discovery of several reusable water bottles and tumblers decorated with dangerously high levels of lead-containing paints.
Under the DENR Administrative Order 2013-24, lead in paints and similar surface coatings must not exceed the maximum limit of 90 parts per million (ppm).
Sold for ₱145 to ₱289 each, the samples were purchased by the group between July to October this year from online sellers and retail stores in the cities of Antipolo, Caloocan, Manila, Quezon, and Teresa, Rizal.
Some of the products are decorated with cartoon characters, an indicator that the products are marketed for children’s use.
Of the 30 reusable steel water bottles and tumblers analyzed, the Ecowaste Coalition detected lead above the 90 ppm limit on the exterior coatings of 15 products with the aid of an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) device.
Ten of these products contained dangerously high levels of lead over 10,000 ppm and one of them has over 100,000 ppm lead.
None of the products provided lead hazard warnings, according to Ecowaste.
Lead was not detected on the other 15 samples, indicating water bottles and tumblers can be decorated with paints that will not result in lead exposure risks.
The EcoWaste Coalition pointed out that while reusable stainless steel water bottles help decrease the consumption of single-use plastic water bottles, their manufacturers must comply with the country’s lead paint standard and other applicable standards.
The group said the presence of lead on the surface coatings of the analyzed water bottles and tumblers is "very disturbing" as the paint will chip over time with repeated use.
The lead on the paint may end up being ingested by the user, especially by a child who is unaware of the health risks, the coalition said.
Lead is toxic if ingested and can cause adverse health problems.
The group urged manufacturers to duly mark their products as "lead-free" or "lead-safe" as confirmed through third-party certification, and to provide basic product labeling information on the packaging, especially the manufacturer’s and/or distributor’s name and contact details.
The group also reminded consumers to assert their legal rights to product information and safety in accordance with the Consumer Act of the Philippines, as well as the ASEAN High-Level Principles on Consumer Protection and the UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection.
“Lead is a highly poisonous element that is responsible for nearly 1.5 per cent of annual global deaths – almost as many deaths as from HIV and AIDS, and more than from malaria,” the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned.
“Lead affects a child’s developing brain, causing decreased intelligence, behavioral disorders and learning problems which can reduce potential earnings in adulthood. It also affects almost every organ in a child’s body, including the heart, lungs and kidneys,” the UNICEF added.