168 spray paint cans tainted with lead – group

In a statement, the group said the spray paint products, represented 39 brands that they screened using a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer and subsequently submitted to global testing company SGS, were found to have contained lead above the limit of 90 parts per million (ppm).

"Of the 168 analyzed spray paints, 119 had lead levels exceeding 10,000 ppm. Moreover, 50 of these paints contained a whopping 50,000 ppm to 212,000 ppm of lead, including eight with over 100,000 ppm," the group's statement read.

They said that the paints were mostly imported from China and Thailand, and none of them were manufactured or distributed by affiliated companies of the Philippine Paint and Coatings Association Inc.

Of the 168 leaded paints, 33 were marked "lead free," carrying the "No Pb" symbol.

According to EcoWaste, the 39 brands of paint that have one or more products with lead are as follows: Anton, Automatic, Bad Axe, Best Drive Extreme One, Boston, Chappie, Colorz, F1, Getsun, Greenfield, Haifei, Howar, JM, JMJAFA, King Sfon, Koby, Korona, KRX, Meng Qi Bo Shi Qi Pai Zidong Penqi, MKT, MR. D.I.Y., Nikko, One Take, Parlux, RMC, RStar, Sanvo, Silvestre, Sinag, Standard, Super7, Tiger, Top Standard, Top Tibay, Veslee, Yandy, Yao Dong Bang, Yatibay, and Yestar Spray Paints.

"To protect consumers from lead-containing paints, the EcoWaste enjoined importers not to bring into the country paints that have not been independently verified as compliant to the 90 ppm lead in paint standard," the group said.

"Importers should not rely on the 'No Pb' and 'lead free' claims on the paint cans unless supported by verifiable third-party certification, which should also be publicly accessible," EcoWaste added.

It also urged spray paint distributors and dealers to voluntarily withdraw leaded paints from the market and also return the remaining stocks to their suppliers for an "environmentally sound disposal."

Over the past five years, EcoWaste discovered 205 aerosol paints with high lead content through its "vigilant" market investigation and chemical screening.