Warning out on paint brush lead, chemical toys

MANILA, Philippines — A group of environmentalists has appealed to hardware stores and home improvement centers to stop the sale of paint brushes whose handles are decorated with lead-containing paint.

As paint brushes are inappropriately used to rub butter, glaze, oil or sauce on food items, the EcoWaste Coalition also urged retail outlets to put up a warning sign on paint brush rack or shelf: “Safety First: Not Suitable for Food Preparation.”

Meanwhile, the coalition asked the Department of Health and Food and Drug Administration to go after manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers of plastic toys containing hazardous chemicals.

The call was made as the public started buying gifts for the Christmas season.

Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition, said, “The use of paint brushes, which are non-food grade utensils, may pose a lead contamination risk, especially when the lead painted handle has started to crumble due to repeated use. The chalking, chipping or peeling lead paint on the handle of these brushes may get onto the butter, glaze, oil or sauce that is applied on food and into someone’s mouth.”

“This raises the possibility for lead poisoning to occur due to the ingestion of lead contaminated food. While further study is required, food preparers are advised to err on the side of caution and only use food-grade basting brushes or mops. Prevention is better than cure, especially when you are dealing with toxic metals like lead, which has no safe threshold for exposure,” said Dr. Erle Castillo, toxicologist at Medical Center Manila and member of the Philippine Society for Clinical and Occupational Toxicology.

If food grade basting or pastry brushes are not affordable or available, ingenious food preparers can opt for DIY (do-it-yourself) mops made out of banana, lemongrass or pandan leaves, the EcoWaste Coalition suggested.

The group recently launched its report entitled “Get the Lead Out of Paint Brushes,” which documents the presence of dangerously high levels of lead in non-food grade brushes used for food preparation.

EcoWaste earlier subjected to laboratory tests two toy samples procured from Divisoria retailers and showed these are laden with banned phthalates, which are plasticizers added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic to make it softer or more pliable.

“Parents should not allow their children to play with toys laden with phthalates that can leach, especially when the toy is chewed or sucked. Exposure to phthalates may impair the health of children, causing damage to their endocrine and reproductive systems,” Dizon said.

According to the introductory guide on endocrine disrupting chemicals published by the Endocrine Society and IPEN (International Physical Activity and the Environment Network), “Phthalate exposure is linked to genital abnormalities in boys, reduced sperm count; decreased ‘male typical’ play in boys; endometriosis, and elements of metabolic disruption including obesity.”

Those subjected to tests were a “Super” baseball set with bat and glove, and a “Mommy’s Baby Collection” plastic doll.

The analyses were performed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry by SGS, a global testing company.