Environmentalist group Ecowaste Coalition on Tuesday warned consumers on buying lucky charms and amulets containing high levels of toxic chemicals, which are unsafe to people, especially children.
The group made the warning ahead of the celebration of the Chinese New Year of the Fire Rooster this Saturday.
The group said some Feng Shui items are decorated with paints containing dangerous levels of lead—a toxic metal belonging to the list of “10 chemicals of major public health concern” of the World Health Organization.
WHO reported that lead “is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems, including the neurologic, hematologic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and renal systems.”
Ecowaste Project Protect coordinator Thony Dizon said that while many Feng Shui charms and amulets are created equal, some are coated with highly-leaded paints and should carry a lead hazard warning.
“Why are these products, which are supposed to attract energy, health, long life, happiness and wealth, coated with lead paints that the Philippines and the entire world are trying to eliminate?” Dizon asked.
“As these products are hardly regulated, we advise consumers to be wary of painted charms and amulets unless these are certified as lead-safe,” he added.
“We make this warning after finding high concentrations of lead in red and yellow paints of some lucky charms and amulets. Red and yellow are among the ‘lucky colors’ for the year of the Fire Rooster,” Dizon said.
Ecowaste recently obtained sample lucky charm items from retailers in Binondo, Sta. Cruz and Quiapo, Manila and screened for lead using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence device and reported the following:
The red paint of a metallic “bagua” had a lead content of 57,100 ppm, the yellow paint of a “gain luck coin” (also known as a “money plate”) had a lead content of 33,500 ppm, the yellow paint of a “lucky dragon amulet” had a lead content of 10,700 ppm, the black-green paint of a rooster figure had a lead content of 5,032 ppm, while the yellow paint of a “four-corner blessing” charm had a lead content of 3,284 ppm.
The government’s Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds has set a maximum limit of 90 parts per million (ppm) for lead in paint, the group cited.
Health experts also warned that lead exposure among children even at low levels can interrupt and damage brain development and cause lifelong learning and behavioral problems, while exposure among adults can bring about miscarriage in women, reduced sperm count in men, hypertension and other health issues.
In lieu of lead-laden lucky charms and amulets, Ecowaste urged luck seekers to opt for the tried and tested formula to attract health, fortune and happiness: healthful lifestyle, “sipag at tiyaga” (hard work and perseverance), fervent prayers and good deeds.
Those who wish to decorate their homes and offices for the Chinese New Year may also go for “lucky fruits and vegetables” like oranges and pomelos for “abundance and happiness” and ginger or taro for “family unity and prosperity,” the group suggested.