Don’t just go buying Pokémon plastic toys, eco-group warns

It’s not always a “Go” for Pokémon, especially since the plastic toy figures of the characters in the popular augmented reality game may be toxic or even deadly for children.

According to EcoWaste Coalition, out of the 225 plastic Pokémon items it bought for P5 each from vendors in Manila, Makati and Quezon City from Aug. 29 to 31, a total of 38 tested positive for lead.

The toys were bought from Lucky Chinatown Mall annex and Divisoria Mall in Manila and outside public elementary schools in Makati and Quezon City.  Using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence device, the 38 figures were found to contain lead concentrations ranging from 132 to 6,880 parts per million (ppm).

“Not all toys cashing in on the popular Pokémon are created equal. Some are laden with toxic lead, many are too small for little children to safely play with and most, if not all, are improperly labeled. Parents and kids need to exercise caution,” EcoWaste Coalition coordinator Thony Dizon said.

“(This is) not meant to throw cold water on the Pokémon craze but simply to remind consumers to be on their toes,” Dizon added.

The use of lead and lead compounds in toys, among other consumer items, is banned under a 2013 order of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.