Public warned vs toxic gadget accessories

MANILA, Philippines - Some accessories for gadgets being sold in Divisoria in Manila have high lead content and may not be suitable for children.

This is the warning of the EcoWaste Coalition to consumers, who were urged to exercise caution when buying accessories like colorful earphones and cord holders for e-gadgets made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic or with PVC adornments.

It recently bought five types of round earphone cases with zipper and found the embossed PVC cartoon characters on four of these cases laden with high levels of lead, ranging from 732 to 1,469 parts per million (ppm).

The earphone cases were bought from a sidewalk vendor on Juan Luna Street for P50 each.

EcoWaste also detected lead between 631 to 2,062 ppm in all five cord holders made of PVC with Disney cartoons and super heroes.

The cord holders were obtained from a discount store in a mall in the area.

It used a handheld X-ray fluorescence device to screen the products for toxic metals.

“These products should carry warning labels for containing  toxic lead,” Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect, said.

“Curious kids may play with these attractive e-gadget accessories as if these were toys and innocently put these in their mouths, exposing them to lead, a chemical poison.”

Harmful to brain

Lead can harm the brain and the central nervous system and damage other body organs, with children under six most at risk.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed lead as one of the “10 chemicals of major public health concern.”

Some of the consequences of brain injury from early exposure to lead are loss of intelligence, shortening of attention span and behavioral problems, the WHO said.

The EcoWaste Coalition also warned that PVC plastic accessories may contain other chemical ingredients such as phthalates that can get into a child’s body by biting or chewing on the plastic.

To prevent exposure to lead and other chemical poisons in PVC, consumers  are urged to avoid plastic products bearing the number “3” or the letters “PVC” or the word “vinyl.”

To encourage manufacturers’ compliance with the government’s Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds, which prohibits the use of lead in the production of school supplies and toys, safety-conscious consumers were advised to go for duly-labeled and registered non-toxic children’s products.