Some good luck charms may be bad for you

People who want to be lucky in the year of the pig should stay away from charms and amulets that may be laced with toxic chemicals, an environmental and health watchdog warned on Monday.

EcoWaste Coalition said that over the weekend, some of its members screened 20 good luck charms being sold by vendors in Binondo and Quiapo in Manila.

Using a handheld X-ray fluorescence analytical instrument, they found high levels of lead and cadmium in most of the trinkets.

“Some lucky charms and amulets that are supposed to attract energy, health, fortune and happiness are unluckily contaminated with cadmium and lead, two highly hazardous substances that belong to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of 10 chemicals of major public concern,” Thony Dizon, EcoWaste chemical safety campaigner, said in a statement.

Of the 20 charms, 15 contained excessive levels of the chemicals, way above the 90 parts per million (ppm) limit for lead in paint under Philippine and US laws, and the 100 ppm limit for cadmium in jewelry under European Union regulations.

Among the trinkets bought by EcoWaste members that tested positive for cadmium were a stainless steel necklace with a pig pendant (293,000 ppm) and a red fabric bracelet with a pig design (238,800 ppm).

EcoWaste Coalition advised those seeking good luck to follow the reliable formula: a healthy lifestyle, hard work, prayers, good deeds and positive relationships.