toxics watchdog group

QUEZON CITY — “Prevention is better than cure.” At the “Usapang Lason” organized by the toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition, community participants agreed that being informed about poison hazards and taking proactive steps to prevent poisoning incidents can save lives, help families stay well, and cut medical expenses.

To mark National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW), the organizers yesterday convened the “Usapang Lason” at the San Pablo Apostol Parish in Tondo, Manila. The activity stems from Proclamation No. 1777-2009, declaring the last week of June as NPPW to raise awareness about preventing poison hazards at home, school, work, and the general environment.

Over 50 community participants, including homemakers, informal waste recyclers, and e-waste dismantlers from the cities of Malabon, Manila, and Navotas, took a break from household and occupational chores to learn about common toxicants lurking in their homes and workplaces. Exposure to these toxicants may cause serious health problems. How sick a person gets depends on the type, amount, and duration of contact with the chemical, the person’s age, and state of health.

In her talk, “Bantay-Bahay, Bantay-Trabaho, Bantay-Buhay,” Dr. Charmaine Micu-Oblefias, consultant of the National Poison Management and Control Center (NPMCC), identified common poisons at home and work, offering the audience actionable prevention tips and instructions on how to respond if a poisoning occurs.

A clinical toxicologist for children and adults, she pinpointed common domestic sources of poisoning, flagging items like household cleaning agents, pesticides, medicines, fuels, and gases, and decanted hazardous substances.

*Clinical toxicologist Dr. Charmaine Micu-Oblefias of the National Poison Management and Control Center talks about common toxicants at home and in the workplace.*

Regarding common poison hazards at work, especially for those dealing with electronic waste or e-waste, Micu-Oblefias pointed out that “constant exposure to invisible dust, fumes, and chemical residues silently damages the lungs, skin, kidneys, and nervous system.” Among the chemicals of concern are noxious fumes from burning wires and circuit boards, lead in old paint, wire casings and solder, mercury released from broken fluorescent lamps, acids and cadmium, leaking from dismantled batteries, and hazardous solvents in degreasers and thinners.

During the Usapang Lason, the participants learned about “the three shields of safety” based on the acronyms LASON, IWAS, and TAWAG, noting that the use of a mnemonic provides an easy-to-remember framework to prevent poisoning and promote informed emergency response.

Shield 1 LASON addresses poisoning prevention at home. “L” stands for labeling containers (note: never reuse food or drink bottles for chemicals); “A” is for “alisin” or removing hazardous articles out of children’s reach; “S” is for separating chemicals from food, rice or medicines; “O” is for observing warning signs like strange smells, leaks or sudden dizziness; and “N” is for numbers, or keeping the emergency hotline numbers of the poison control center, barangay health unit, and nearest hospitals handy. The NPMCC, based at the Philippine General Hospital, can be reached at 09667189904.

Shied 2 IWAS protects e-waste workers from occupational exposures. “I” is for isolating or separating hazardous waste such as batteries, bulbs, chemicals, and sharp items. “W” is for wearing protection such as gloves, masks, closed shoes, and protective eyewear. “A” is for avoiding burning cable to remove the copper or sniffing bottles to identify unknown liquids. And “S” is for safe disposal.

Shield 3 TAWAG provides guidance on what to do in case of suspected poisoning. “T” is for “tanggalin” or removing the victim away from the chemical source, smoke or contaminated arear; “A” is for “alamin” or assessing the cause of poisoning incident, for example, what was swallowed or inhaled, how much and when; “W” is for “wag pasukahin” or never force vomiting; “A” is for “agarang banlaw” or rinse immediately with clean running water and remove contaminated clothing; and “G” for go or call for help, noting the importance of bringing the chemical container or a photo of it.

During the open forum, participants raised specific concerns on best-before and expiry dates, pharmaceutical waste disposal, hazards of vaping, alternative ways of cleaning silver jewelry, safe management of e-waste, etc., eliciting a lively sharing of experiences and perspectives

Among those who came for the learning session on poison hazards and poisoning prevention were the representatives of the Nagkakaisang Lakas ng Mangangalakal sa Longos (NLML), Pagkakaisa ng Mamamayan sa Barangay Dampalit (PMBD), Samahan ng mga Mangangalakal ng Scrap sa Capulong (SMNC), Samahan ng Mamamayan-Zone One Tondo Inc. (SM-ZOTO), Sambayanan ng Muling Pagkabuhay Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SMPMPC), Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Ministry of the Parish of the Risen Christ, San Pablo Apostol Parish, and the staff of the EcoWaste Coalition.

QUEZON CITY — Hazardous chemicals like lead, which harm developing brains, must not be used in children’s products, including backpacks and other school supplies.

The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition reiterated the importance of keeping lead and other harmful substances out of children’s products as the academic year 2026-2027 commences on June 8.

“As no amount of lead exposure is without risk, manufacturers and regulators must eliminate all avoidable sources of lead exposure in products marketed for children’s use so they can grow up healthy and safe,” said Aileen Lucero, national coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition. “Labeling information on chemicals in children’s products must also be made mandatory to guide consumers in making sound choices. Consumers have the right to know what they are spending on and be protected against toxic exposure.”

“Children face a higher risk from toxic chemicals because they breathe, eat, and drink more relative to their body size than adults do; they frequently put things in their mouths, and their bodies and immune systems are still developing. Their neurological systems are especially vulnerable during these critical windows of growth — damage done early can have lifelong consequences,” said environmental health specialist Dr. Geminn Louis Apostol of the Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI). “Because of their inherent vulnerability, children require special protection against lead, heavy metals, and other harmful chemicals found in their homes, schools, and communities.”

“Protecting children from toxic exposure is not just a health issue — it is a matter of justice and our collective responsibility to future generations,” Apostol emphasized.

To hammer its message home, the EcoWaste Coalition revealed that it has detected potential lead exposure risks in some popular back-to-school essentials it recently purchased from retailers in Caloocan, Manila, and Quezon Cities as part of its ongoing advocacy to uphold children’s right to a healthy, toxics-free environment.

A total of 69 products were procured and screened for heavy metals using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, including 46 backpacks, 11 lunch bags, 6 stainless steel tumblers, and 6 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic raincoats.

Backpacks. Out of 46 backpacks, 36 were identified as posing lead exposure risks because they contained lead levels as high as 30,320 parts per million (ppm), way above legal limits. Specifically, lead levels varying from 110 to 3,026 ppm were detected on the colored fabric or PVC plastic design of 22 backpacks. Also, the zipper sliders and pull tabs of 17 backpacks contained lead ranging from 12,040 to 30,320 ppm. Only one of these backpacks provided labeling information, but in foreign characters; the rest were totally unlabelled.

Lunch bags. Of the 11 lunch bags, 7 were found to contain lead up to 25,670 ppm. Lead levels between 238 and 509 ppm were detected on the colored fabric or PVC plastic design of 3 lunch bags. Zipper sliders and pull tabs of 6 lunch bags also contained 13,360 to 25,670 ppm of lead. Nine of these lunch bags had zero labeling information.

Tumblers. Of the 6 stainless steel tumblers, one was found coated with lead-containing green paint, measured at 64,620 ppm. While no lead was detected in the exterior paint of the other tumblers, lead levels ranging from 37,530 to over 100,000 ppm were found in the solder dot at the base of 5 tumblers. This area poses a potential exposure risk if the covering sticker is peeled off. None of the six tumblers carried basic labeling information.

Philippine and US laws limit lead in paints to a maximum of 90 ppm, while US law prohibits accessible components of children’s products, such as zipper teeth, pulls, and sliders, from containing more than 100 ppm of lead.

Raincoats. Additionally, toxic cadmium up to 205 ppm was detected in all six PVC plastic raincoats. Cadmium up to 487 ppm was also detected in 13 backpacks, such as those made of clear PVC plastic.

European laws limit cadmium in plastic to no greater than 100 ppm.

To protect children’s health and safety, the EcoWaste Coalition urged the authorities to strictly regulate and monitor products marketed for children’s use, noting that strong and enforced regulations can help prevent lifelong health problems. The group called on policy makers and implementers to:

– Review, strengthen, and expand current regulations on lead and other harmful substances in children’s products.
– Fix policy gaps, such as banning lead in accessible parts of any children’s products.

– Prohibit use of PVC plastic in children’s products to prevent exposure to toxic chemical additives, particularly cadmium and phthalates.
– Require mandatory labeling information for all children’s products, including chemical composition and hazard warnings.

“As classes begin, we hope our children step into healthy, safe, and toxics-free spaces in school and at home where they can truly develop and flourish,” the EcoWaste Coalition concluded.

EcoWaste Coalition holds ‘Usapang Lason’ to raise community awareness on common toxicants, promote poisoning avoidance

EcoWaste Coalition flags lead exposure risks in some back-to-school supplies