Toxics watchdog warns vs unsafe Christmas lights due to high lead content
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—As Filipinos begin decorating for the holidays, environmental group BAN Toxics has issued a warning about the dangerous levels of lead detected in Christmas lights sold in the country.
In a recent market check, BAN Toxics purchased six sets of multicolored Christmas lights priced at P100 each. None of the samples displayed the required Import Commodity Clearance sticker that certifies product safety, the group said in a statement released on its website.
Using a Vanta C-Series XRF Analyzer, the group found toxic lead concentrations of up to 100,000 parts per million (ppm) in the soldered LED bulbs, the PVC wiring and circuit boards. The lead content far exceeds international safety limits.
Lead exposure poses serious health risks, especially for children who absorb four to five times more lead than adults, according to the World Health Organization. Children’s frequent hand-to-mouth behaviors increase the danger of ingesting lead dust or particles.
Thony Dizon, advocacy officer for BAN Toxics, said that lead exposure can cause permanent brain damage, developmental delays, organ damage, lower IQ and, in severe cases, death.
Handling lead-contaminated wires can leave residues on skin, while outdoor lights exposed to heat and sunlight may release lead dust as the plastic insulation degrades. Improper disposal of these products may contaminate soil, water and air, raising health risks in communities nearby, the group said.
European standard
While local regulations do not currently limit lead content in electrical products, BAN Toxics pointed to a directive by the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), which caps lead at 1,000 ppm in any component.
The group urged the Department of Trade and Industry to conduct more market inspections, enforce product safety standards and consider adopting rules similar to the EU’s RoHS to protect Filipino consumers.
Dizon stressed the importance of safety labels and markings so buyers could avoid toxic products. “Without proper certification, consumers risk exposure to hazardous chemicals like lead,” he said.
