Avoid toxic toys this season – group

Environmental group EcoWaste Coalition presented various gift items bought from Divisoria in Manila. EcoWaste appealed to the public to avoid gifts that have high contents of toxic chemicals. ECOWASTE PHOTO

Don’t buy items for Christmas presents priced from P150 and below that do not declare their lead content.

This was the appeal of environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition on Monday saying such items pose danger to people’s health and safety.

“It’s nice to give and receive gifts during this joyous season. However, not many of us are aware that we might be giving dangerous gifts laden with hazardous substances such as lead, which can result in intellectual disability, developmental problems and other health woes for the innocent recipient,” Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition, said in a statement.

Lead is a highly poisonous chemical that is known to cause irreparable and irreversible mental and physical impairment.

According to EcoWaste, the following items sold in Divisoria, Manila, were found to have a high level of lead content.

1. A red and yellow coated “Naruto Shippuden” fidget spinner
2. A tall yellow-painted  “Hi,I’m Monkey” vacuum flask
3. A short yellow-painted “Despicable Me” vacuum flask
4. A green “Mickey Mouse” glass cup
5. A yellow “Spongebob” glass cup
6. A “Wonderful” xylophone
7. Several “Kai Xin” laser toys
8. A mini-xylophone
9. “Funny Toys” lizards
10. Toy farm animals

Aside from the items, Dizon also advised the public to not give dolls, soft balls and squeaky toys made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic.

According to Dizon, PVC plastic may contain toxic additives such as lead stabilizers and phthalate plasticizers. /cbb