Lead-Contaminated Spray Paints Identified in Philippine Market

• The EcoWaste Coalition has identified four imported spray paint colors containing hazardous levels of lead, violating local environmental regulations.
• The affected products, sold online as 'Lucky 5 Rain-Bow,' contained lead levels up to 88,400 ppm, far exceeding the 90 ppm limit.
• Lead exposure poses severe long-term health risks to both children and adults, with the WHO stating there is no safe level of exposure.

Detection and Findings

• Samples tested by the EcoWaste Coalition showed high concentrations of lead:
  • Deep Yellow: 88,400 ppm
  • Yellow: 85,500 ppm
  • Allium Green: 32,400 ppm
  • Leaf Green: 14,460 ppm
• The products are general-purpose paints for metal, wood, and glass, retailing online for P74 per can.
• This is the fourth brand flagged by the group in August 2026, alongside previous reports on Corolla, Jiuniuxing, and Tecpaint.

Enforcement and Policy Needs

• The coalition advocates for stricter customs inspections and listing lead chromates under the Rotterdam Convention to limit trade.
• Regulators are urged to enforce the Internet Transactions Act (Republic Act No. 11967) to penalize and remove illegal listings on e-commerce platforms.

Health Consequences

• Childhood impact: Lifelong cognitive impairment, reduced IQ, developmental delays, and behavioral disorders such as ADHD.
• Adult impact: Joint pain, mood disorders, memory issues, reproductive health problems, and hypertension.
• The WHO maintains that lead is a major public health concern with no known safe level of exposure.