As the popularity of Labubu dolls soars, toxics watchdog EcoWaste Coalition warned the public about unauthorized and unlabeled Labubu-inspired merchandise available in the market, as some items have tested positive for toxic chemicals such as lead.
Labubu, an elf character, gained popularity after both local and international celebrities were seen attaching Labubu dolls to their bags
Based on the monitoring of the group, unofficial Labubu-inspired items are being sold at shops all over Divisoria, Manila.
“Imitation dolls, stuffed toys, key chains, phone accessories, stickers, purses, and other products featuring Labubu are offered for sale per piece or in bulk at affordable prices,” EcoWaste said.
The Labubu-inspired merchandise, according to the group, are sold without the required authorization and labeling information.
The group said that, out of the 42 items they purchased, five were partially labeled and the rest had no labels at all. “Eight of the 42 items were found to contain lead, a potent neurotoxin, as determined through X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) screening,” the toxics watchdog bared.
Moreover, EcoWaste said 24 of the 42 items were found to be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, which contains hidden toxic additives, including lead used as stabilizers or colorants, and phthalates used as plasticizers. “Lead ranging from 212 parts per million (ppm) to 1,728 ppm was detected on the miniature Labubu PVC plastic toys adorning some of the key chains,” the group reported.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers lead as one of the 10 chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.
“Lead affects a child’s developing brain, causing decreased intelligence, behavioral disorders, and learning problems which can reduce potential earnings in adulthood,” the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.
“It also affects almost every organ in a child’s body, including the heart, lungs, and kidneys.”
EcoWaste said that children are exposed to lead in PVC toys when they put such toys inside their mouths and chew on them.
The group warned that chronic exposure to lead even at low levels can harm a child’s health over time, affecting the child’s growth, development, and future.
Per EcoWaste, some of the Labubu merchandise also contained chemical compounds called phthalates that are used to make the PVC plastic pliable and soft.
“Phthalates are known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) or chemicals, natural or synthetic, that may block, imitate or interfere with the body’s hormones,” the group said.
It noted that children’s exposure to phthalates has been linked to allergies, asthma, abnormal genital formation, and behavioral problems.
“Most toys, school supplies, and baby stuff made of PVC that were sent by the EcoWaste Coalition to the laboratory for phthalate analysis were found to contain phthalates that are prohibited in toys and childcare articles above 0.1 percent by weight,” the group said.
The toxics watchdog advised parents to keep such products out of children’s reach.
They were also told to select duly labeled and authorized toys for their kids.