EcoWaste warns of poison in plastic election tarpaulins

Members of environmental group EcoWaste Coalition warn of a toxic chemical that may be found in plastic tarpaulins that may be used in the coming election campaign. PHOTO COURTESY FROM ECOWASTE COALITION Courtesy of EcoWaste Coalition

MANILA, Philippines — Environmental watchdog EcoWaste Coalition warned candidates in the coming elections against using of potentially harmful plastic tarpaulins ahead of the official campaign period on Feb. 12.

“The mass production of tarpaulin banners and posters for the midterm election campaign will surely add to the plastic pollution that our country is wrestling with,” EcoWaste Coalition’s Chemical Safety Campaigner Thony Dizon said in a statement.

“It’s not a simple solid waste issue as these popular campaign materials are laden with toxic chemicals such as cadmium that may negatively impact on our people’s health and the environment,” he added.

The group pointed out that plastic tarpaulins may contain cadmium, a heavy metal with high toxicity listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) among the “ten chemicals of major public health concern.”

Cadmium, according to the WHO, exerts toxic effects on the renal, skeletal and respiratory systems, and is classified as a human carcinogen.

To drive its point, the group sent five tarpaulin samples costing P100 to P150 from commercial sign makers located in Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Pasay and Quezon City for a cadmium analysis.

Based on test reports, the tarpaulin samples were found to contain cadmium in the range of 515 to 1,038 parts per million (ppm), exceeding the 100 ppm limit set by the European Union (EU) for cadmium in plastics.

The group then appealed to candidates to ensure that such materials are removed promptly after the May 2019 polls for environmentally-sound management. /cbb