21 June 2025, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition has detected lead, a hazardous chemical of major public health concern, in imported plastic flip-flops for kids that are sold for only P20 per pair.
As part of the group’s nonstop advocacy to promote awareness and action on unsafe products that may put children’s health and development at risk, the group bought 10 pairs of kiddie flip-flops from a budget store and screened them for harmful substances.
The plastic slippers are marked “made in China” and are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PVCU (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) and EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) materials as indicated on the label.
Using a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, the group detected levels of lead on the footbed or sole of the slippers, the ornament on the straps, and the product logo.
Of the 10 plastic flip flops screened for hazardous chemicals, nine were found to contain parts with lead above levels of concern.
— The ornaments on eight of the 10 plastic footwear contain 150 to 9,510 parts per million (ppm) of lead.
— The footbed or sole of four of the 10 plastic footwear contain 1,890 to 2,431 ppm of lead.
— The product logo of six of the 10 plastic footwear contain 261 to 4,084 ppm of lead.
The ornament, footbed and product logo of a yellow plastic slipper, for example, was found to contain lead up to 5,120 ppm, 2,388 ppm and 3,389 ppm, respectively.
According to the group’s investigation, the levels of lead found on the plastic slippers would be in violation of US and European Union’s regulations.
The US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act restricts children’s products, including children’s footwear, and components of children’s footwear, to a lead content limit of 100 ppm.
Regulation (EU) No.2023/923 amended Annex XVII of REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006, which among other provisions, restricts lead to less than 0.1% (or 1,000 ppm) in PVC polymer and copolymer articles.
According to a fact sheet published by the World Health Organization (WHO), “exposure to lead can affect multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children and women of child-bearing age.”
“In particular, lead can permanently affect children’s brain development, resulting in reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), behavioral changes including reduced attention span and increased antisocial behavior, and reduced educational attainment,” the WHO said, warning “there is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects.”
WHO has classified lead among the 10 chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern worldwide.
The EcoWaste Coalition again called on the authorities to ensure that products made and sold for children’s use are safe from hazardous chemicals such as lead and other heavy metals, phthalates and other substances of very high concern, and are duly certified and labeled to assist consumers in making informed choices.
References:
https://www.sgs.com/en/news/
https://www.who.int/news-room/
