Remembering departed loved ones does not mean forgetting yourself and risking your health.
As Filipinos spend the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, or Undas, holidays praying for the souls of their loved ones who passed away, environment watchdog EcoWaste Coalition reminded everyone to shun the use of imported candles with lead-cored wicks, whether in the cemetery, in a columbarium, or at home.
“To avoid lead poisoning risk, please steer clear of candles with metal wire in the wick unless certified non-toxic and safe,” she added. EcoWaste started to campaign for a ban on candles with lead-cored wicks in 2012 after detecting lead ranging from 34,800 to 62,900 parts per million in seven imported candles that it bought from retailers in Binondo, Manila. A combined laboratory analysis in 2014 of lead-cored wicks submitted by the group to a private testing company found 207,350 ppm lead in the analyzed wicks.
“Lead emissions from any source pose health risk and can result in increased blood lead levels in unborn babies, babies and young children,” the FDA warned.