Shoppers warned on ‘toxic’ coffee mugs

MANILA, Philippines - Environmentalist group EcoWaste Coalition cautioned shoppers against buying coffee mugs bearing Christmas symbols as these may contain lead and other toxic chemicals.

This developed after the group analyzed 35 samples of Christmas mugs for heavy metals like antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury.

“As the gift-giving season comes closer, we advise the public to be on guard against products like ‘dirty’ Christmas mugs laced with toxic chemicals that are harmful to the health,” Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect, said.

“As consumers, we have the right to seek truthful information about chemicals in products and to be protected against health hazards,” he added.

The mugs have Christmas bell, candy cane, evergreen tree, gingerbread man, mistletoe and holly, Santa Claus and his reindeers, snowflakes star, stocking, wreath and other symbols of the season painted on them.

Worth P20 to P85 per piece, the mugs were purchased by the group from five bargain or discount stores.

Fifteen of the samples were obtained from a single vendor in Villalobos Street, Quiapo, Manila, the other bought from bargain shops in Mandaluyong City; Sta. Cruz, Manila; Alabang, Muntinlupa City,  and Cubao, Quezon City.

When subjected to a handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) chemicals analyzer last Oct. 31, all 35 samples were found to contain one or more heavy metals  above allowable levels.

Dizon said 29 of the samples were found to contain lead above the 90 parts per million (ppm) US limit for lead in paint.

“Studies have associated exposure to lead to serious health problems, including developmental delays, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, decreased intelligence, birth abnormalities, and damage to the brain and the central nervous system and kidneys,” he added.

Arsenic, a known human carcinogen, and cadmium, a probable carcinogen, were detected in 35 and 31 samples, respectively, while another possible human carcinogen, antimony, was found in 33 samples.

As Christmas approaches, the EcoWaste Coalition announced its plan to conduct more analysis of common Yuletide gifts to guide consumers in gift-buying and giving decisions.