EcoWaste urges DepEd to ensure toxic free toys

The Department of Education plans to give out toys to children this coming school year, to inspire them to attend school and learn.

However, the EcoWaste Coalition advised DepEd to ensure that donated toys and educational materials for kindergartens are toxic free.

Friday, Thony Dizon Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition's Project People Responding And Organizing Against Toxic Chemical Threats or PROTECT, said that they commend the good intentions of DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro. However, they urge that DepEd should see to it that toys with "unsafe substances" are kept out of reach of pre-schoolers.

"We should not let our guards down; knowing that children are most prone to chemical contamination and other hazards," Dizon added. He pointed out that kids are more vulnerable to toxic chemical exposure compared to adult. And this is due to their frequent hand-to-mouth and object-to-mouth activities, which threatens their still developing immune and other vital systems.

Based in an experiment conducted in Thailand last December 2010, 6 out of 7 plastic toys in Divisoria marked positive for toxic plastic additives called Phthalates.

Phthalates contamination can affect the body causing damage to the liver, the kidneys, the lungs and the reproductive system.

Posted in: toxics