DENR to conduct study to check if marble toys pose health hazard

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said it will conduct a study to determine if marble toys pose a health hazard.

This was the reply of DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna when asked for his comment regarding BAN Toxics' allegation that marble toys have toxic effects.

BAN Toxics said it examined some marble toys, known in Filipino as holen, and found them to have traces of cadmium.

The group said "cadmium exerts toxic effects on the kidneys, as well as the skeletal and respiratory systems, and is classified as a human carcinogen" according to the World Health Organization.

"We need to inform and caution the public, especially mothers and children, of the dangers which come from small but terrible marble toys that are sold in the market. They are choking hazards and exposure to these toys may also cause cancer," said BAN Toxics campaigner Thony Dizon.

The group also said the marble toys they examined did not have the required labeling information as required by Republic Act No. 10620 or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act of 2013. —KG, GMA News