Photo courtesy EcoWaste Coalition.
In many countries, an important route of entry for chemicals and metals is through consumer products. These substances can cause concern for consumer exposure, particularly in children. With international partners, IPEN has undertaken a study of the global impacts of this issue. Thus far, we have tested products in the Philippines and in China.
Starting in the Philippines in August 2011, we measured toxic metals in 435 children’s products in Cebu, Davao and the metro Manila area in the Philippines. Measurements were performed using a hand-held X-ray fluorescence analyzer (XRF) and focused on antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury. Approximately 29% of the products contained at least one toxic metal above levels of concern. The data revealed 67 products (15%) that contained lead at or above the US regulatory limit. Fifty-seven samples (13%) contained more than one toxic metal. The study also found children’s toy cosmetics with mercury levels ranging from 4 – 77 times higher than the regulatory limit in the Philippines. The findings raise safety concerns for exposure in children and highlight the need for protective national regulatory policies. To our knowledge, this is the first publicly available investigation of toxic metals in children’s products in the Philippines.
In December 2011, we expanded our examination to China. Due to the extensive production of toys and other consumer products, exposure to chemicals and metals from consumer products can take place throughout the lifecycle. These substances can cause concern for consumer exposure, particularly in children. This study, conducted by Greenpeace East Asia and IPEN, measured toxic metals in 500 children’s products purchased in five Chinese cities: Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Wuhan. Measurements were performed using a hand-held X-ray fluorescence analyzer (XRF) and focused on antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury. Overall, the data indicated that approximately one-third of the products contained at least one toxic metal above levels of concern. The data revealed 48 products (10%) that contained lead at or above the regulatory limit in China. Eighty-two products (16%) exceeded the 90 ppm regulatory limit for lead content in paint used in the US and Canada. Forty-six samples (9%) contained more than one toxic metal. Five children’s products contained mercury at levels ranging from 39 – 78 times higher than the regulatory limit for mercury in cosmetics in China. The findings raise safety concerns for exposure in children due to extensive hand to mouth behavior and highlight the need for protective national regulatory policies. The high percentage of products with zero or low levels of metals (67%) indicates that elimination of metals in children’s products is technically and economically feasible. To our knowledge, this is the first publicly available investigation of toxic metals in children’s products in China.