The Food and Drug Administration said it found samples of the tainted watercolor products from bookstores in Manila and Makati Cities.
“Lead has tendency to accumulate slowly in the body when ingested over prolonged period of time. Lead may be deposited in the bones and teeth, and can be found in blood. Chronic lead poisoning can cause nervous system toxicity and renal tubular dysfunction leading to irreversible interstitial nephrosis with progressive renal impairment and hypertension. Lead can also depress blood synthesis and shortens the life span of erythrocytes or red blood cells, causing a hypochromic microcytic anaemia,” it said.
It said the lead-tainted samples were bought from Merriam Webster Bookstore along Carvajal St., Binondo, Manila and VMZ Bookstore at Guadalupe Shopping Center in Makati.
Laboratory findings showed lead beyond the maximum tolerable limit of 90 parts per million on the sample of Artex Fine Water Color manufactured by Venus Commercial Co. in Malabon City.
According to the FDA, the yellow water color paints of the watercolor set taken from the Binondo bookstore contained 3,342.41 ppm.
On the other hand, the sample from the VMZ Bookstore had 5,089.42 ppm.
“Upon verification, the FDA database revealed that the watercolor paint products do not have market authorization from the FDA,” the FDA said.
The FDA said the laboratory tests were done by the FDA Central Laboratory in collaboration with the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) and a non-governmental organization (NGO), which performed initial screening for lead with a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device.
With the findings, the FDA warned the public to buy watercolor paints and other school supplies that are registered/notified with the FDA, supplied or distributed by FDA-licensed establishments and sold by legitimate outlets.
On the other hand, the FDA said its field officers are ordered to seize the products and close down the unlicensed supplier.
“All government units and enforcement units are urged to close down outlets selling unregistered products. Likewise, the Bureau of Customs is requested to remain vigilant in guarding the Philippine borders against the entry of toxic, unregistered, counterfeit or smuggled products from other countries,” it said. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News
