MANILA, Philippines — Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition has sounded the alarm over the continued sale of insulated steel tumblers coated with paint containing dangerously high levels of lead, a toxic substance particularly harmful to children.

In time for the start of the new school year, the group purchased several unbranded tumblers, priced between P120 to P190 each, from street vendors in Binondo and Quiapo, Manila. The tumblers were tested using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer, which detects chemical elements in materials.

The analysis found that 11 of the tumblers were coated with paint containing lead levels exceeding the legal limit of 90 parts per million (ppm), in violation of the country’s lead paint ban. One yellow tumbler (600 mL) contained as much as 61,850 ppm of lead. Other tumblers — painted in colors such as orange, apple green, rust orange, army green, red, light green, and cream — had lead concentrations ranging from 1,532 ppm to 47,270 ppm.

Two other tumblers featuring popular cartoon characters also tested positive for lead: a red tumbler with a “Car” design registered 4,500 ppm, while a pink “Hello Kitty” tumbler showed 1,087 ppm.

Citing the World Health Organization (WHO), the group emphasized that no level of lead exposure is considered safe. Children are especially vulnerable, as their bodies absorb lead at much higher rates than adults. Even low levels of lead in the bloodstream can cause irreversible damage, including neurological impairment, behavioral problems, and reduced IQ.

“These lead-containing paints on the exterior surfaces of some tumblers pose exposure risks, especially to young children who are unaware of the danger,” the group warned. “With frequent use, the paint may flake off, and the lead particles may be ingested.”

EcoWaste Coalition reiterated its call for the government to designate a lead agency responsible for regulating the sale of consumer products containing lead, including tumblers, and to ensure their removal from the market.

The group stressed that the continued sale of such products undermines the country’s Chemical Control Order for lead, issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which bans the use of lead in paints and certain products like school supplies and toys. The ban was implemented in phases from 2013 to 2019.

EcoWaste Coalition said its latest findings are part of its ongoing campaign to protect children’s health and promote the effective enforcement of lead-related regulations for a toxics-free future.