Consumers urged: Demand facts on chemicals in toys

CEBU, Philippines - The EcoWaste Coalition, a toxics watchdog, advises consumers to demand information on chemicals in products as toy stores load the shelves with spooky merchandises for the Halloween celebration.

In a statement, the coalition urged consumers to be on the alert for children’s products that may be laden with phthalate, a toxic additive to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic.  As a precaution against exposure to phthalates, which can interfere with the body’s endocrine system, the coalition further urged consumers to shun toys made of PVC materials, especially those that can be ingested, mouthed or sucked.

Thony Dizon, coordinator of the coalition’s project protect, said that countries in Europe have withdrawn from the market Halloween costumes, masks, and fake teeth that pose chemical risk for containing banned phthalates.

Dizon added it is good to exercise precaution when buying such items as toy makers and sellers cash in on the growing popularity of Halloween in some sections of the society, particularly among urban children.

This is part of the group’s ongoing “Kid Safe Toys for Zero Harm and Zero Waste” campaign.

The group said that lead is a universally recognized poison that has no known safe level in children’s blood.  Childhood lead exposure is associated with reduced IQ, slowed body growth, attention or behavior problems and failure at school, among other issues.  (FREEMAN)