Nagbabala ang Environmentalist group EcoWaste Coalition sa mga shoppers against buying coffee mugs dahil ang mga ito ay maaring maglaman ng Lead at iba pang nakakalason na chemicals.
Below are their findings:
Out of 35 samples, 29 were found to contain lead above the 90 parts per million (ppm) which is the US limit for lead in paint.
The 29 lead-tainted samples had an average of 12,643 ppm lead, with the following as the top five items:
A green mug with an image of Santa Claus saying “have a happy hollyday” registered with the highest level of lead among the tainted samples at 26,700 ppm. The same sample scored the highest in chromium at 13,200 ppm and arsenic at 3,875 ppm. It was also laced with 3,047 ppm cadmium and 608 ppm antimony.
Another green mug with Santa Claus and snowflakes ranked second in lead content with 21,100 ppm.
A blue mug with a Snowman wearing winter gloves, hat and scarf was third most leaded at 20,800 ppm.
A mug with a sitting Santa Claus having a cup of hot drink and some cookies was fourth most loaded with lead at 19,100 ppm.
A mug with three teddy bears on a sofa by a fireplace with some Christmas stockings hanging placed fifth in lead content with 19,100 ppm
Arsenic, a known human carcinogen, was detected in all 35 samples in the range of 29 ppm to 3,875 ppm.
Cadmium, a probable human carcinogen, was discovered in 31 samples in the range of 491 ppm to 5,418 ppm.
Antimony, another possible human carcinogen, was determined in 33 samples in the range of 172 ppm to 1,362 ppm.
Source: Manila Bulletin
