As Christmas nears, environmental groups warn public of hazardous toys with lead that can result in lower IQ

As Christmas nears, environmental protection groups on Sunday warned the public to be wary of hazardous toys in the market that might bring more harm than joy to children this holiday season.

In a press statement released by EcoWaste Coalition, Chemical Safety Campaigner Thony Dizon reminded shoppers to be cautious of their choice of toys since there are some that can cause "choking, skin laceration, strangulation and even injury to sensitive body parts like the eyes and ears."

Clinical toxicologist Dr. Bessie Antonio of East Avenue Medical Center advised shoppers to stop buying toys that are " laden with hazardous substances such as endocrine disrupting chemicals, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants."

She noted that lead in painted toys may be ingested by children through hand-to-mouth behavior and that chronic exposure can lead to complications in the child's growth and development.

Dr. Antonio said this might result in "in lower intelligence quotient (IQ), poor school performance, reduced attention span, and anti-social behavioral."

EcoWaste Coalition conducted a toy sampling involving 156 products bought from toy retailers in Baguio, Manila, Cebu and Davao cities and discovered none of them provided "complete labeling information as required by  Republic 10620, or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations."

"Twenty out of 156 toys had lead levels above the regulatory limit of 90 parts per million; traces of other heavy metals such as antimony, arsenic, cadmium and chromium were also detected in some toys," EcoWaste noted.

"Eighty-five of the 156 toys contain small parts that can pose a choking hazard; some toys were also found to pose eye injury, laceration, and strangulation hazards," they added.

To avoid children's exposure to hazardous toys, EcoWaste Coalition issued a few reminders:
 
1. Choose age-suitable toys.  Check the recommended age on the product label and select the one that is appropriate to your child’s age, abilities, habits, and maturity level.  Refrain from buying toys that are not labeled for age appropriateness.
 
2. Pick toys that are durable and well-made.  A sturdily made toy will last longer and will be safe for parts that could break or fall apart with frequent use. Detached or shattered parts could injure or pose a choking hazard to a curious child.
 
3.  Shun toys with small parts to reduce the risk of choking.  Marbles, tiny balls and toys with button batteries and small components pose a choking risk.  As a general rule, toys and toy parts should be bigger than a child’s mouth
 
4.  Avoid toys with a cord longer than 12 inches to prevent strangulation incidents.  Toys with a cord or string longer than 12 inches can be deadly as it can wrap around the neck and asphyxiate a child.
 
5.  Go for injury-free toys.  Refrain from procuring toys that can injure a child’s ears, eyes, skin and body such as toys with pointed parts, sharp edges and those that can eject small objects such as toy pellet guns.
 
6. Reject lead painted toys.  Refuse coated toys if there is no assurance that the paint used is safe from lead, a neurotoxin.  Toys should be painted only with lead safe paints to prevent a child from being exposed to this toxic chemical that can cause intellectual impairment and mental retardation, among other adverse effects.
 
7. Avoid toys made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. PVC plastic toys contain chemicals additives such as toxic phthalates that can leach out when a toy is chewed or sucked.
 
8. Patronize duly labeled and registered toy and childcare articles (TCCAs). Notified TCCAs have undergone quality and safety assessment by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). — LA, GMA News