Group warns of toxic cadmium in kids' jewelry

MANILA, Philippines - Environmental group Ecowaste Coalition has warned against the dangers of cadmium, a known carcinogen found in children’s jewelry in the US.

Ecowaste urged the government to test children’s jewelry sold in the country and safely dispose of those laced with cadmium.

Former Ecowaste president Manny Calonzo said the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued five recall orders for cadmium-tainted children’s jewelry from China.

The group noted that the California State Senate passed a law last August banning the manufacture, shipment or sale of children’s jewelry containing more than 0.03 percent cadmium by weight starting 2012.

“We need to be on ‘red alert’ to ensure that rejected children’s jewelry as well as toys containing elevated amounts of cadmium, lead and other toxic substances are not dumped into the Philippine market,” said Calonzo.        

Cadmium is listed in the revised Priority Chemical List comprised of 48 chemicals that need regulation. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, however, is yet to issue a chemical control order (CCO) that will regulate the use of cadmium and cadmium compounds.

The DENR has issued CCOs for asbestos, cyanide, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls to prevent serious risks to public health.

According to the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, breathing high levels of cadmium can severely damage the lungs. Eating food or drinking water with very high levels of cadmium severely irritates the stomach, causing vomiting and diarrhea.

Long-term exposure to lower levels of cadmium in air, food, or water leads to a buildup of cadmium in the kidneys, leading to kidney disease.

Other long-term effects are lung damage and fragility of bones.

Ecowaste also warned that seven brands of imported whitening products banned by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for containing high level of mercury are still sold in shopping malls in Baclaran and Pasay City.

“Several months have already passed since these mercury-laced skin lightening products were banned for posing imminent danger or injury to consumers and we can still purchase them like ordinary personal care products,” said Aileen Lucero, of EcoWaste’s Project Protect.    – With Sheila Crisostomo