Warning Out on Labubu-Decorated Tumblers with Toxic Lead

Some unofficial Labubu merchandise may pose health risks such as these tumblers with lead-containing paints.

25 November 2024, Quezon City. The EcoWaste Coalition has detected lead above the legal limit in three stainless steel tumblers featuring the popular Labubu character.

After detecting lead in Labubu-inspired polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic toys, the toxics watchdog group this time found colorful Labubu-inspired tumblers decorated with paints containing lead above the 90 parts per million (ppm) limit.

Out of the six unofficial Labubu merchandise bought for P275 each, lead above 1,000 ppm was detected on three tumblers, particularly on the pink, red and yellow colors that were screened for lead using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer.

“While reusable tumblers are a great substitute to the ubiquitous single-use bottles and cups, these eco-friendly alternatives must be safe from hazardous materials like lead in paint, which can chip over time with repeated use and which may end up being ingested by the user who is not aware of the health risk," reminded the EcoWaste Coalition. 

Exposure to lead even at low doses is hazardous to health, noting “there is no known safe level of lead exposure,” the group emphasized.

To recall, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order No. 2013-24, or the Chemical Control Order (CCO) for lead and its compounds, phased out lead containing decorative and industrial paints in December 2016 and December 2019, respectively.

A supplemental issuance by the Environmental Management Bureau affirmed the mandatory use of paints without added lead in the manufacture of toys and related children’s products after the said phase-out deadline in 2016

To protect human health, children’s health in particular, the EcoWaste Coalition proposed the following action points for the government, business and consumers to consider:

1. For the national government to name the regulatory agency in charge of enforcing the lead paint ban in consumer products such as water tumblers, including the removal from the market of non-compliant ones. 
2. For importers to only bring in products with authentic certificates of conformity to the 90 ppm total lead limit for paints, and for retailers, including online sellers, to demand for such certificates from suppliers before putting any painted water tumblers on sale. 
3. For consumers to insist on their right to product labeling information, as well as their right to quality and non-hazardous products. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “young children are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of lead and can suffer permanent adverse health impacts, particularly on the development of the central nervous system.”

“Lead causes long-term harm in adults, including increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and kidney damage,” the WHO said. "Lead exposure during pregnancy can cause reduced fetal growth and preterm birth.”



References:
https://chemical.emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/DAO-2013-24-CCO-Lead.pdf

https://www.who.int/campaigns/international-lead-poisoning-prevention-week

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-healthnt/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health