Cebu City Barbecue Vendors May Be Using Paint Brushes With Toxic Lead Content

[JJReyes]

Vendors may not realize that they should not use paint brushes. Some respond well to an information campaigns. Others don't care. It is the consumers who can make the difference. I would approach a vendor and order 20 sticks of barbecue. As she wraps it up using a dirty newspaper or place it in a plastic bag made with toxic materials, I would say, "You are using a paint brush! Sorry. I changed my mind." Once the use of paint brushes results in loss of business, the equipment will change.  

[Jack Peterson]

Sorry. I changed my mind." Once the use of paint brushes results in loss of business, the equipment will change.  

One would hope so but then, we know where we are. There is normally a queue at these places, so I guess your order will be passed on.

 

Trying to explain what is happening here, may be difficult, I wonder how many know or Understand how dangerous Lead is or for that matter, if they even know what Lead is? 

 

 

 

:tiphat:

[JJReyes]

One would hope so but then, we know where we are. There is normally a queue at these places, so I guess your order will be passed on.

 

I can also shout, "This vendor is using poison to cook their barbecue!"

 

(Joke only. I am too young to die.)

[Jollygoodfellow]

How long would the lead stay in the brush? would the heat and basting disperse the lead over time or would washing solve the problem.

[Thomas]

Well. Yes. lead is dangerous

BUT concerning food carts/market stalls I believe how they STORE the food in the heat is MORE dangerous...

 

A Filipina I know in Cebu, went to one such after she had quit work - and became periodical unconsious 3 days and very weak long time after that, I suppouse by FOOD POISONING...  

[earthdome]

The poison is in the dose. i.e. Small amounts of toxic substances usually are not harmful... the amount of the toxic substance you ingest or inhale has to reach a certain level before it starts becoming harmful to your health.

 

I would wager that the amount of lead from these paint brushes on your BBQ would be so low it is barely detectable if at all.

 

Yet the charcoal that cooks the BBQ is full of combustion byproducts, many of which are carcinogenic.

 

A long time ago one of the hats I wore where I worked was as an Industrial Hygienist. It was my job for worker safety to evaluate the chemical hazards and recommend safety precautions. This included testing of air and water as needed to ensure a safe work environment.

[Jake]

 

One would hope so but then, we know where we are. There is normally a queue at these places, so I guess your order will be passed on.

 

I can also shout, "This vendor is using poison to cook their barbecue!"

 

(Joke only. I am too young to die.)

 

I mentioned this before in another topic where the street vendor (male) just came back from the nearest wall.  

He may be using a basting brush contaminated with lead but what about his fingers?  Do you see him washing

his hands before he serves you fresh barbecue or a freshly cut pineapple?  

 

From my experience however, I never had any Hershey Squirt attack as I struggle back to the ship, stumbling

drunk and hungry.  I just chase the mystery meat on the stick with some cold San Maggoo and life is good.

 

Finger lickin' good -- Jake

[Jollygoodfellow]

Lead in rain coats too  :o

 

Public warned of toxic raincoats

 

MANILA, Philippines—Toxic rain gear may protect children against the flu or a cold but they can make kids sicker.

 

A consumer safety group said  Saturday that raincoats sold in discount retail shops in the cities of Manila and Pasay contain high levels of the toxic metal lead.

The EcoWaste Coalition cautioned parents against buying raincoats made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic which, it said, contains toxic additives particularly lead that can harm the brain and the central nervous system and even disrupt the normal functions of the endocrine system.

According to EcoWaste, five of six PVC raincoats it bought early last month from stores in Divisoria in Manila and Baclaran in Pasay City at prices ranging from P130 to P200 were found to contain lead.

The June 25 results from the analysis of the items by global testing company SGS revealed that they contained up to 574 parts per million (ppm) of lead, way above the allowable 100 ppm limit for lead in accessible substrate materials under the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

Among the items that EcoWaste sampled were two Tweety Bird yellow raincoats which contained 574 ppm and 190 ppm of lead; a yellow student raincoat with 243 ppm of lead; a Winnie the Pooh yellow raincoat with 217 ppm of the toxic metal; and a Mickey Mouse blue raincoat with 164 ppm.

 

According to EcoWaste Project Protect coordinator Thony Dizon, “While it is true these raincoats can prevent kids from getting wet, the lead and other hazardous substances on the PVC plastic material or design may make them sick in the long term and pollute the environment as well.”

He added that when PVC raincoats get old and are discarded, the lead and other toxins they contain are discharged into the environment.

Dizon said that children are vulnerable to such toxins because they are prone to hand-to-mouth activities and their vital organs and systems are still developing.

He advised parents to buy only non-PVC rain gear and to constantly check the condition of the products for signs of wear and tear. Children, he added, should always be reminded to wash their hands after playing and before eating.

EcoWaste asked local manufacturers to strictly abide by the provisions of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds.

They said that manufacturers should phase out lead and other toxic chemicals in the production process; disclose the chemical content of their products; and respect the consumers’ right to know through complete and truthful labeling.

Lead, which can be ingested or inhaled, is most dangerous for children because it can damage or retard brain development, causing shorter attention span, learning disabilities, lower intelligence quotient scores, poor control of impulses, and aggressive behavior.

 

 

 http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/617195/public-warned-of-toxic-raincoats#ixzz36fOf1pDz