Cebuano buyers wary on toxic toys

With the onset of the holiday season, most Cebuanos remain unaware about the presence of toxic toys in the market.

“I won’t buy toys anymore because I don’t know where they came from,” said 28-year-old Leonila Baco.

Baco said this after hearing a Department of Health (DOH) advisory on toxic toys.

Judith Margallo, a 35-year-old mother of three had become wary after hearing about the advisory, particularly toys made in Taiwan.

She realized that buying garments for gift instead would be better. The DOH advisory made some people exercise caution in buying toys. .

As ecology groups voice concern on toxic toys, local governments were faced with monitoring their presence and raising public awareness on them.

In Cebu City, only three toy stores of big department stores were tested for safety this year.

Rica Aumentado, Central Visayas Food and Drug Administration supervisor, said they only have six personnel assigned to check the toys to determine whether they contain toxic levels of chemicals.

She said they have to send the toys to their central office in Manila for tests done with the X-ray fluorescence analyzer, a scanner for toxic chemicals on toys.

Aumentado urged the public to be careful in choosing toys, especially if it would be for kids below five years old.

“It’s inevitable that most would prefer the cheaper toys. But they should check the labels of the toys first to assure that it passed health standards,” she said.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier said prolonged exposures can cause tracheobronchitis, pneumonitis and pulmonary edema.

Lawyer Gloria Estenzo Ramos of the EcoWaste Coalition said the DOH could not monitor all the toys sold, especially in those sidewalk stalls.

“A massive information dissemination is needed to educate the consumers,” Ramos said.

Ramos said LGUs should partner with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in confiscating toys that contain high toxicity levels.

She suggested the passage of an ordinance that will test the safety of the products and apprehend those found to be highly toxic.

Ramos also welcomed the house resolution filed by Rep. Luis Gabriel Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district to have the House health committee investigate the issue.

The resolution also called for a health advisory to educate consumers on the dangers of lead and cadmium content in toys.

Ecowaste Coalition earlier warned that prolonged exposure to chemicals found in the toys can be harmful to one’s health.

The group urged the public to read product labels before purchasing a toy and choose those made from natural materials.  Reporter Candeze Mongaya and STC Intern Tweeny Malinao