Group finds ‘high concentrations’ of cancer-causing chemical in school supplies

An environment watchdog on Tuesday unveiled a list of school supplies that tested positive for toxic phthalates, a cancer-causing chemical.

The EcoWaste Coalition collected samples from retail outlets in Divisoria, Quiapo and Cubao, which the group submitted to testing firm SGS Philippines. The retrieved samples were made from polyvinyl chloride plastic or PVC, a synthetic plastic polymer.

The phthalates, a class of plasticizers added to PVC to make it soft and flexible, are known to disrupt the hormonal system of the body.

The following samples tested positive for high concentration of phthalates:

• Cat Man ballpen with yellow PVC accessory
• yellow PVC raincoat with tiger design
• PVC plastic envelope with penguin design
• PVC Princess Mica shoulder bag

All the samples tested positive for DEHP and DINP type phthalates. DEHP type is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

The phthalates are absorbed by humans through ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption. The chemical is also linked to genital abnormalities in boys, reduced sperm counts, endometriosis, elements of metabolic disruption and obesity, the group said.

The group cited the Department of Health Administrative Order 2009-0005-A which mandates that materials with phthalate concentration exceeding 0.1 percent should be banned in manufacturing toys.

“DEHP and DINP are restricted in children’s toys not only in the Philippines, but also in Europe and the US.  So why are we finding them in very high concentrations in school supplies, which, like toys, are directly handled and used by children?” EcoWaste Coalition Project Coordinator Thony Dizon said in a press statement.

Dizon warned the public not to buy school supplies made of PVC.

“For the health of our kids and the ecosystems, we ask our parents to buy PVC-free school supplies.  At the same time, we ask the government to extend the ban on toxic phthalates in toys to all children’s products, including childcare articles and school supplies,” he said .

Aside from avoiding school supplies made of PVC, the EcoWaste Coalition also warned the use of backpacks with shiny plastic designs, modelling clays, notebooks containing metal spirals with colored plastic coating and paper clips coated with PVC plastic.

Meanwhile, Dizon appealed to all manufacturers of school supplies to switch to non-PVC materials and to disclose the chemical ingredients of their products.

“The unregulated use of PVC-based children’s products is not only a public health issue, but an environmental one as well.  Burning PVC products at the end of their useful lives will generate extremely toxic pollutants known as dioxins,” Dizon warned. —Kiersnerr Gerwin Tacadena/ALG, GMA News