EcoWaste Coalition Finds Toxic Cadmium and Lead in Some School Supplies
Mothers Charina and Imelda and their kids join the advocacy campaign of the toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition for the removal of hazardous substances like cadmium, lead and phthalates in school supplies to prevent and reduce chemical exposures among children.17 July 2024, Quezon City. As the back-to-school shopping goes in full blast, the toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition again drew consumers’ attention to the disturbing presence of hazardous chemicals like cadmium and lead in some common school materials.
At a media briefing held at its office today, the EcoWaste Coalition stressed it is unacceptable to find toxic cadmium and lead, which are linked to decreased cognitive abilities, learning difficulties and other adverse health effects, in things that parents buy for their children’s schooling, noting that children are particularly sensitive and vulnerable to chemical exposures.
“Our latest market investigation shows that toxic school supplies remain a public health issue that our society, consumers, regulators and educators in particular, should be concerned about,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition. “To protect our children’s health, we need to impose a full ban on hazardous chemicals in school supplies and other children’s products. And we need to make it mandatory for the chemical ingredients of a product to be clearly marked on the packaging, starting with products marketed for children’s use such as school supplies and toys.”
According to Dr. Geminn Louis Apostol, environmental health specialist, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health – Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI): "Children are most vulnerable to environmental toxicants because they breathe more air, drink more water and consume more food in proportion to their body weight and because their bodily systems and defenses are still developing. Children’s hand-mouth and hand-object behavior further contributes to increased exposures to these toxicants, which may affect a child’s development and even her or his health later in life.”
To generate science-based data for its continuing advocacy towards chemical safety and zero waste, the EcoWaste Coalition from July 5 to 13 procured a total of 110 assorted schools supplies -- from backpacks to paper clips – from several retail stores in Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Pasay, Taguig and Quezon Cities, and from a few online sellers.
The group examined the product labeling information and then screened the items for heavy metals using a handheld X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device, which can identify and measure elements like heavy metals in a sample.
Based on its examination of the product labels, the EcoWaste Coalition revealed that:
- 60 of the products had zero labeling information, while the rest are inadequately labeled (for example, no manufacturer’s or distributor’s markings);
- none of the samples had chemicals in products (CiP) information depriving consumers of their right to know and make sound purchasing decisions; and
- 11 crayons do not have the “non-toxic” mark, which signals conformity to government-set toxicity limits.
- 18 backpacks and lunch bags, mostly decorated with cartoon characters, were found to contain 168 to 2,224 ppm of lead, with 3 items laden with both lead and cadmium;
- 1 pouch bag had 28,230 ppm lead detected on the yellow paint of its zipper;
- 4 of the stainless steel water bottles were coated with paints with lead ranging from 3,220 ppm to over 100,000 ppm, way above the 90 ppm limit for lead in paints and similar surface coatings;
- 7 plastic envelopes, folders and notebook covers contained cadmium from 130 ppm to 330 ppm, exceeding the European Union’s limit of 100 ppm for cadmium in all plastics;
- 3 kiddie rain coats contained 282 ppm to 317 ppm of cadmium, higher than the EU’s 100 limit for cadmium in plastics;
- 7 brands of vinyl coated paper clips contained 6,740 ppm to 30,710 ppm of lead, surpassing the EU limit of 1,000 ppm for lead in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic; and
- 7 erasers were labeled PVC or qualified as PVC by the XRF screening (soft PVC-based products may contain toxic plasticizers called “phthalates,” which are restricted in toys, but not yet in school supplies).
The EcoWaste Coalition explained that the detection of lead in some of the analyzed school supplies may indicate the use of lead in paints or surface coatings, as well as its use as plastic colorants and stabilizers, while the detection of cadmium in PVC products may indicate its use as plastic stabilizers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lead “is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems, including the neurologic, hematologic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and renal systems.” The WHO also warned “children are particularly vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of lead, and even relatively low levels of exposure can cause serious and in some cases irreversible neurological damage.”
Cadmium is categorized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as “carcinogenic to humans.” It is also recognized as a reproductive and developmental toxicant associated with reduced birth weight, premature birth, stillbirth, spontaneous abortion and birth defects in humans, as well as behavioral and learning disabilities.
Both cadmium and lead are included in the Priority Chemicals List of the Philippines, and the WHO’s list of 10 chemicals of groups of chemicals of major public health concern.
References:
https://www.who.int/teams/
https://www.who.int/teams/
Tips for Safer Back-to-School Shopping:
1. Carefully read the product labeling information.
2. Avoid PVC plastic, such as those with strong chemical smell, as much as possible.
3. If you have already bought plastic school supplies with strong chemical odor, place them within direct sunlight to remove the smell.
4. Select erasers that are marked “phthalate free” or “PVC-free.” Avoid scented and food-shaped erasers.
5. Choose crayons with a “non-toxic” label.
6. Go for plain stainless steel water bottles, and avoid painted ones unless certified “lead safe.”
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