Ginamitan umano ng pintura na may lead ang ilang estatwa ng Santo Niño sa kabila ng pagbabawal ng gobyerno sa paggamit nito.
Nagsagawa ng pagsusuri ang environmental group na EcoWaste Coalition sa mga Santo Niño na ibinebenta sa halagang P50-P200 sa labas ng simbahan sa Quiapo at Tondo.
Lima sa 10 Santo Niño na kanilang sinuri ay nakitaan ng lead, isang kemikal na mapanganib sa kalusugan. Umaabot sa 252 hanggang 3,944 parts per million ang lebel ng lead sa mga ito, malayo sa pinapayagang 90 ppm.
Ang kawalan ng lead sa lima pang estatwa ay indikasyon umano na maaaring gumamit ng pintura na hindi hinaluan ng kemikal na ito.
“Religious devotion need not be associated with a chemical poison,” ani Thony Dizon, chemical safety campaigner ng EcoWaste. “We appeal to religious craft makers to ensure that only lead safe paints are used for religious statues and figurines in keeping with the law that seeks to protect human health and the environment against the toxic effects of lead.”
Ayon sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order 2013-24, ipinagbabawal sa bansa ang mga pintura na may lead na lagpas sa 90 ppm.
“As the Feast of the Santo Niño is celebrated today, we urge religious craft businesses to commit to producing and selling only lead-free items that are guaranteed safe for the faithful, especially the children, to kiss and touch,” ani Dizon.
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