Makati urged to expand drive towards mercury-free city

An environmental watchdog has commended the government of Makati City for its pioneering initiative to make the country’s premier business and financial capital “mercury-free.”

“Makati’s effort to raise public awareness about the need for environmentally-sound management of mercury-containing lamp waste is a feat worth replicating by other local government units,” said Thony Dizon, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect.

“We urge the Makati authorities to expand and sustain this beneficial program beyond the June to September 2011 timeframe to make it truly effective,” he said.

“We also hope to see Makati introducing more trailblazing measures to keep the city’s homes, schools, businesses, clinics and hospitals free from mercury hazards,” he suggested.
Makati City, in partnership with Zuellig Building, has so far collected 1.58 tons of discarded lamps and batteries that were deposited in custom-built recycling bins located at the Makati City Hall in Barangay Poblacion, Zuellig Building in Makati Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas and in the Barangay Urdaneta office.

The spent lamps are then sent to a government-accredited treatment, storage and disposal facility located in Marilao, Bulacan for proper resource recycling.

To make the program more accessible to Makati’s nearly 600,000 residents, the EcoWaste Coalition has requested Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay to install more lamp recycling bins in the city’s 33 barangays.

“Apart from the barangay halls, we suggest putting secured lamp recycling bins in other places frequented by the public such as in churches, markets and schools,” Dizon stated.

“It will surely help if the City Council will pass the first-ever ordinance establishing a system for environmentally-sound management of mercury-containing lamp waste to prevent mercury contamination of regular trash,” he pointed out.

“Such a system would necessitate, among other essentials, a sustained public information drive, the integration of the city’s informal recyclers such as the waste pickers into the scheme and the imposition of fines and penalties for improper lamp waste disposal,” he added.

To make Makati City “mercury-free,” the EcoWaste Coalition urged Mayor Binay to seriously consider instituting other practical measures to curb mercury releases, particularly from intentional sources such as mercury in laboratories and schools, in cosmetics and in medical devices.

Specifically, these measures would include:

1. Ordering schools to remove and discontinue use of mercury compounds and mercury-containing equipment to prevent chemical spills;

2. Directing regular market surveillance to rid shops of banned personal care products such as mercury-tainted skin whitening creams; and

3. Auditing hospitals and clinics to check their compliance with the phase-out and storage of mercury in health care facilities.

“Makati City, we further hope, can push the government into adopting and enforcing effective national mercury control laws and regulations, as well as support the ongoing process for a comprehensive and robust global mercury treaty,” the EcoWaste Coalition emphasized.

Exposure to mercury, a heavy metal with chemical symbol “Hg,” can cause significant adverse health effects.

According to the United Nations Environment Program and the World Health Organization, “the primary targets for toxicity of mercury and mercury compounds are the nervous system, the kidneys, and the cardiovascular system.”

“Other systems that may be affected include the respiratory, gastrointestinal, hematologic, immune and reproductive systems,” the agencies said.

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And the top 10 poisons are...

Fear not it’s National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW)! The mere mention of the word poison is enough to make us cringe. By poison, we mean a substance that can cause a disturbance to organisms, usually by chemical reaction, when a sufficient amount is ingested. Of course, there are the other potent things that can poison the mind and pollute the soul, but I digress.

FYI, as per Presidential Proclamation No. 1777, Series of 2009, NPPW is held annually every fourth week of June to raise public awareness on poison prevention.

To mark NPPW (and tell everyone there’s such a week), a toxic watchdog urges the public to watch out for poisons and take life-saving precautionary measures to avoid poisoning accidents that can endanger children’s health.

What are these chemical hazards lurking in our own home and how do we prevent poisoning, especially among our precious children? To dramatize the importance of the celebration, members of the EcoWaste Coalition’s AlerToxic Patrol trooped to Mega Q-Mart (the former Nepa Q-Mart) on EDSA to disseminate vital bits of information. Holding up big mock images of product containers that bear the morbidly familiar symbol of skull and cross bones, the AlerToxic patrollers mingled with shoppers and gave out leaflets entitled Kalatas (short for Kamalayan sa Lason at Lunas or Awareness on Poison and Cure). The very absorbing leaflet contains handy, down-to-earth tips that parents, teachers, and workplace managers will find useful in reducing, if not eliminating, chemical poisoning as a result of improper purchase, handling, use, and storage of products containing harmful substances.

“The myriad of poisoning cases involving children due to the consumption of or exposure to harmful products and substances should stir parents, as well as school administrators and teachers, into employing precautionary steps to stop such incidents,” says Thony Dizon, coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect.

And what are the top 10 poisons? Citing data from the 2010 annual report of the UP National Poison Management and Control Center (NPMCC), the EcoWaste Coalition reports that the top 10 poison agents in terms of in-patient referrals for the pediatric age group are: kerosene, caustics (such as chlorine bleach), silver jewelry cleaners, pesticides (like insecticide lotion and spray, and rat poison), ferrous sulfate, elemental mercury (like the silvery liquid in some thermometers), paint thinner, paracetamol, button cell batteries, and benzodiazepines (psychoactive drugs).

“Many of the poisoning cases that have occurred in the past could have been prevented if only these common sense tips (mentioned below) were applied,” laments Dizon.

And the top tips to prevent poisoning are:

• Be a health and safety-conscious consumer: Read product labels, demand chemical information, and select non-toxic products.

• Keep a record of hazardous and potentially hazardous products, as well as wastes, in your home, school or workplace such as cosmetics and toiletries, cleaning agents, automotive supplies, herbicides, pesticides, and other products with added toxic chemicals.

• Label chemicals and store them properly in a dry, locked or tamper-proof cabinets.

• Ensure that chemicals are out of children’s and pets’ reach, and far away from food and water. Do not store cleaning supplies with or near food items.

• Follow instructions for the safe handling, application, and storage of products containing harmful substances, including directions for safe disposal.

• Never mix chemicals unless specified in the instructions to avoid risky chemical reaction (for example, combining ammonia with bleach will yield poisonous gas).

• Ensure that chemicals are tightly capped and securely stored after use to avoid emission and spillage, and never leave them unattended.

• Do not remove poisonous products from their original containers or packages and do not destroy product labels or inserts, which could contain life-saving information.

• Never store chemicals in beverage or food containers as children tend to associate potable drink and edible food with some containers.

• Do not place ant, roach, and rat poisons on the floor that children can mistakenly ingest. Try non-chemical alternatives to get rid of household pests.

• Keep medicines duly labeled and stored in child-proof containers and cabinets, and check the labels and expiry dates before taking them.

• Refrain from taking medicines in front of kids as they tend to mimic what adults do. Kids should not be told that medicine is candy.

• Dispose of used button cell batteries properly and keep the unused ones far from children’s reach.

• Have a first-aid kit ready and accessible in case of an emergency.

• Regularly wash or clean children’s hands, toys, and other items and places frequently used by kids to minimize potential exposure to lead and other harmful chemicals.

• Know where to call or get help in the event of suspected or actual poisoning. Call or visit a doctor at once and be sure to keep the original container of the ingested substance for reference. You may also contact the UPNPMCC at the following numbers: 524-1078, 554-8400 local 2311, 0922-8961541.

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PH groups join global call to resolve Minamata tragedy before mercury treaty named for victims

Over 200 civil society groups from 70 countries, including over 35 from the Philippines, have asked the Government of Japan to resolve a 55-year old struggle for justice by Minamata mercury pollution victims and survivors.

Through the “Honoring Minamata” statement, the groups insisted that the still ongoing tragedy must be properly addressed by the Government of Japan and the Chisso Corporation before the global mercury treaty can take the name the Minamata Convention in 2013.

A Chisso Corporation plant producing the chemical acetaldehyde using a mercury catalyzed process irresponsibly discharged wastewater tainted with methyl mercury into the Minamata Bay in Kumamoto Prefecture from 1932-1968, causing what is now called the “Minamata disease” among people who ate the contaminated fish and other seafood.

The Japanese government is set to holds meetings on June 26 in Minamata to explain why the new mercury treaty should be named the Minamata Convention, triggering civil society groups around the world to express support for the Minamata victims and survivors.

“We call on the Government of Japan to make a public commitment to resolving the tragedy and to take concrete steps toward a genuine resolution of the tragedy before the treaty is finalized in 2013,” said Mariann Lloyd-Smith, IPEN co-chair. “After 55 years of struggling, we stand in solidarity with the Minamata victims’ groups in calling for a genuine resolution of the problem.”

“Naming the global mercury control treaty the Minamata Convention directly connects the treaty
to the tragedy,” said Olga Speranskaya, IPEN co-chair. “If the treaty has this name, then the victims and their legitimate demands must be honored and the lessons of the Minamata tragedy must be applied to the treaty.”

In 2010, then Prime Minister Hatoyama proposed naming the mercury treaty the Minamata Convention, though the proposal was not discussed with Minamata groups prior to its announcement.

As victims of the Fukushima tragedy mount, the Minamata disaster may provide important lessons about compensation, clean-up, and polluter pays, the groups said.

In January 2011, Minamata victims and supporter groups released a statement on the tragedy at the global mercury treaty negotiation meeting in Chiba, Japan calling on the government to take authentic steps towards its resolution.

Among the local groups that have supported the “Honoring Minamata” statement were
Alaga LAHAT, Alliance of Progressive Labor, Alyansa Tigil Mina, Ang Nars, Arugaan, Ban Toxics, Bangon Kalikasan Movement, Buklod Tao, Inc., Cavite Green Coalition, Citizens’ Organization Concerned with Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability, Consumer Rights for Safe Food, Ecological Society of the Philippines, EcoWaste Coalition and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives.

Also signing were Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Green Stage Filipinas- Maskara, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance – Philippines, Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia, Institute for Educational and Ecological Alternatives, Interface Development Interventions, International Academy for Oral Medicine and Toxicology- Asia, Kinaiyahan Foundation, Krusada sa Kalikasan, Ministry of Ecology of Risen Christ Parish (Silang, Cavite) and Miriam P.E.A.C.E.

The other signatories were Mother Earth Foundation, Order of Friars Minor – Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, People’s Alternative Study Center for Research and Education in Social Development Inc., Pesticide Action Network Philippines, Philippine Earth Justice Center, Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society, Inc., Sanib Lakas ng mga Aktibong Lingkod ng Inang Kalikasan, Save Sierra Madre Network and the Soljuspax.

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Painkillers can kill children, warns EcoWaste

Painkillers can kill even children.

This warning was issued yesterday by toxic watchdog EcoWaste Coalition as they called on the public, particularly parents and teachers, to take precautionary measures to prevent poisoning among children.

Citing data from the 2010 annual report of the University of the Philippines National Poison Management and Control Center (UPNPMCC), the EcoWaste Coalition said paracetamol, also known as painkillers, was among the leading causes of poisoning among children.

Aside from paracetamol, the other top 10 poison agents in terms of in-patient referrals for pediatric age group were kerosene, caustics (example: chlorine bleach), silver jewelry cleaners, pesticides (examples: insecticide lotion and spray and rat poison), ferrous sulfate, elemental mercury (example: the silvery liquid in some thermometers), paint thinner, button cell batteries and benzodiazepines (psychoactive drugs).

“The myriad of poisoning cases involving children due to the consumption or exposure to harmful products and substances should stir parents, as well as school administrators and teachers, into employing precautionary steps to stop such incidents,” EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect coordinator Thony Dizon said.

According to Dizon, many poisoning cases that have occurred in the past could have been prevented if only these common sense tips had been applied.

As the nation marks the National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW) this week, EcoWaste Coalition and other toxic watchdogs gathered yesterday to remind the public on the risks of toxic chemicals inside their homes.

The group said parents, teachers and workplace managers can help reduce incidence of chemical poisoning by proper purchase, handling, use and storage of products containing harmful substances.
The public was advised to be health and safety-conscious consumers by reading the labels, demanding chemical information and selecting non-toxic products.

The public was likewise reminded to keep a record of hazardous and potentially hazardous products, as well as wastes, in homes, schools or workplaces such as cosmetics and toiletries, cleaning agents, automotive supplies, herbicides, pesticides and other products with added toxic chemicals.

Chemicals must be labeled and stored properly in a dry, locked or tamper-proof cabinet, the group said.

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Watchdog warns: your children may be at risk of poisoning

To mark National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW), a toxic watchdog on Sunday appealed to the public to take essential precautions to avoid poisoning accidents that can endanger children’s health.

The NPPW is held annually every fourth week of June to raise public awareness on poison prevention as directed by Presidential Proclamation No. 1777, Series of 2009.

In a bid to inform citizens about chemical hazards and the practical ways to prevent poisoning, especially among children, members of the EcoWaste Coalition’s AlerToxic Patrol gathered near Mega Q-Mart (formerly known as the Nepa Q-Mart) along EDSA in Quezon City to disseminate vital information.

Holding big mock images of product containers that bear the skull and cross bones symbol, the AlerToxic Patrollers gave out leaflets entitled “Kalatas,” which is short for “Kamalayan sa Lason at Lunas” (Awareness on Poison and Cure), to shoppers.

“Kalatas” (Note) contains practical tips that parents, teachers and workplace managers will find useful to reduce, if not eliminate, chemical poisoning as a result of improper purchase, handling, use and storage of products containing harmful substances.

“The myriad poisoning cases involving children due to the consumption or exposure to harmful products and substances should stir parents, as well as school administrators and teachers, into employing precautionary steps to stop such incidents,” said Thony Dizon, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect.

Citing data from the 2010 annual report of the UP National Poison Management and Control Center (UPNPMCC), the EcoWaste Coalition reported that the top 10 poison agents in terms of in-patient referrals for pediatric age group are kerosene, caustics (for example, chlorine bleach), silver jewelry cleaners, pesticides (for example, insecticide lotion and spray and rat poison), ferrous sulfate, elemental mercury (for example, the silvery liquid in some thermometers), paint thinner, paracetamol, button cell batteries and benzodiazepines (psychoactive drugs).

“Many of the poisoning cases that have occurred in the past could have been prevented if only these common sense tips have been applied,” Dizon pointed out.

These poison prevention tips include:

1. Be a health and safety-conscious consumer: read the labels, demand chemical information and select non-toxic products.

2. Keep a record of hazardous and potentially hazardous products, as well as waste, in your home, school or workplace such as cosmetics and toiletries, cleaning agents, automotive supplies, herbicides, pesticides and other products with added toxic chemicals.

3. Label chemicals and store them properly in a dry, locked or tamper-proof cabinet.

4. Ensure that chemicals are out of children’s and pets’ reach and far away from food and water. Do not store cleaning supplies with or near food items.

5. Follow instructions for the safe handling, application and storage of products containing harmful substances, including directions for safe disposal.

6. Never mix chemicals unless specified in the instructions, in order to avoid risky chemical reaction (for example, combining ammonia with bleach will yield poisonous gas).

7. Ensure chemicals are tightly capped and securely stored after use to avoid emission and spillage, and never leave them unattended.

8. Do not remove poisonous products from their original containers or packages and do not destroy product labels or inserts, which could contain life-saving information.

9. Never store chemicals in beverage or food containers as children tend to associate potable drink and edible food with some containers.

10. Do not place ant, roach and rat poisons on the floors that children can mistakenly ingest. Try non-chemical alternatives to get rid of household pests.

11. Keep medicines duly labeled and stored in child-proof containers and cabinets, and check the labels and expiry dates before taking them. Refrain from taking medicines in front of kids as they tend to mimic what adults do. Kids should not be told that medicine is a candy.

12. Dispose of used button cell batteries properly and keep the unused ones far from children's reach.

13. Have a first-aid kit ready and accessible in case of an emergency.

14. Regularly wash or clean children’s hands, toys and other items and places frequently used by kids to minimize potential exposure to lead and other harmful chemicals.

15. Know where to call or get help in the event of suspected or actual poisoning. Call or visit a doctor at once and be sure to keep the original container of the ingested substance for reference.

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Tainted foods banned in schools

The Department of Education (DepEd) directed Thursday all canteens in public and private elementary and high schools to remove food products from their stocks that are believed to be contaminated with di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to ensure the health and safety of the students inside school premises.

In DepEd Memorandum No. 140, series of 2011 issued to all regional directors, schools/city division superintendents, and heads of private and public elementary and secondary schools, Education Secretary Armin Luistro ordered that “school canteens to dispose of or return these food products in your stocks and ensure that they are not consumed by students and school personnel.”

Luistro ordered school heads “to monitor the inventory of food items sold in school canteens, and to communicate the department’s concern with the local government so food stalls outside of schools maybe examined.”

DepEd officials and school canteens are ordered to follow the directive from the Department of Health-Food and Drug Administration (DoH-FDA) on how to deal with DEHP-contaminated products to prevent school children from buying it.

Under DoH-FDA directive 2011-008, “products whether registered or not with the FDA but identified in the tentative list of DEHP-contaminated products shall be recalled and disposed of properly.”

Products that are not identified in the list but are unregistered with the FDA “shall also be recalled and disposed of, and lastly that those products that are registered but not identified in the list shall be withdrawn from the market to be subjected to a laboratory analysis to confirm the presence or absence of DEHP.”

Some of the items in the FDA-issued list of DEHP-tainted products from Taiwan include fruit juices, fruit juice powders, fruit concentrates, fruit candies, fruit tablets, fruit powders, sports drinks, teas, jelly and yogurt.

DEHP, a suspected carcinogen, can damage the kidneys, liver and lungs, and cause reproductive and developmental disorders such as underdeveloped penises and testicles in boys and early puberty in girls.

Taiwan’s FDA reportedly ordered a stop to the selling of the products. Earlier, EcoWaste Coalition, a toxic watchdog, urged the DepEd to initiate proactive measures to ensure that students are protected from health-damaging food and drinks containing DEHP.

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Food chemical may shrink sex organs

TO further secure the health and safety of the students, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday ordered all school canteens to rid of products from their stocks contaminated with the chemical di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP.

DEHP is suspected to cause damage in the kidneys, liver and lungs, and cause reproductive and developmental disorders such as underdeveloped penises and testicles in boys and early puberty in girls.

DepEd points to a DOH-FDA directive (2011-008), “products whether registered or not with the FDA but identified in the tentative list of DEHP-contaminated products shall be recalled and disposed of properly.”

Some of the items under the list include fruit juices, fruit juice powders, fruit concentrates, fruit candies, fruit tablets, fruit powders, sports drinks, teas, jelly and yoghurt.

In Memorandum Order No. 140, Education Secretary Armin Luistro directed school canteens to “dispose of or return products in your stocks and ensure that they are not consumed by students and school personnel.”

School heads were also mandated to monitor the inventory of food items sold in school cafeterias, and to relay the department’s concern with the local government so food stalls outside of schools maybe examined.

Those in-charge of school canteens are likewise encouraged to follow the directive from the Department of Health-Food and Drug Administration (DOH-FDA) on how to deal with DEHP-contaminated products to prevent school children from buying it.

Under the said DOH-FDA directive (2011-008), “products whether registered or not with the FDA but identified in the tentative list of DEHP-contaminated products shall be recalled and disposed of properly.”

Some of the items under the list include fruit juices, fruit juice powders, fruit concentrates, fruit candies, fruit tablets, fruit powders, sports drinks, teas, jelly and yoghurt.

Products not identified in the list but are unregistered with the FDA shall also be recalled and disposed of, and lastly that those products that are registered but not identified in the list shall be withdrawn from the market to be subjected to a laboratory analysis to confirm the presence or absence of DEHP.

The toxic watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition earlier urged DepEd to act on rolling out a food safety awareness and action campaign with school administrators, teachers, non-teaching personnel, students, parents and food service providers to educate them on the gravity of the issue.

The Taiwan’s FDA has also ordered a stop to the selling of products made by the Yu Shen Chemical Company that used DEHP as substitute for palm oil.

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Eco-group calls for a chemical-free, ecological farming

An eco-group has urged Filipinos, especially the farmers, to switch from synthetic chemical-based farming into natural, chemical-free farming.

“The transition has to take effect fast as we badly need to restore the health and fertility of our farms that are being tormented by the indiscriminate use of synthetic fertilizer and pesticide inputs,” Bernie Aragoza, chair of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Task Force on Ecological Agriculture.

The group aired this plea at its recent seminar on ecological farming in Quezon City that brought together urban and rural leaders from different community groups in Bataan, Cavite, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Rizal and Metro Manila.

Participants of the seminar learned about the simple, low-cost and effective ways of doing homemade garden concoctions as substitutes to chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the employment of beneficial microorganisms and the cultivation of food crops in clay pots or recycled containers for space-challenged homes, barangays, schools and churches.

According to Aragoza, transitioning from use of agro-chemical inputs to natural and ecological farming will bring about other benefits, including ensuring safe produce, protecting water resources from chemical runoffs, and saving money from costly chemical inputs.

“In lieu of synthetic chemicals, we can make concoctions out of alternative raw and natural materials that can serve many purposes such as for nitrogen fixing, controlling pests, enriching the soil, and inducing the growth and flowering of plants and trees. These alternative materials are many, cost almost nothing and mostly available in backyards and in kitchen waste like left-over cooked rice, ripe papaya, garlic or ginger, and fish bones, intestines or gills,” Aragoza suggested.

“By making use of these alternative materials, we also reduce our household biodegradable waste and prevent the formation of greenhouse gases by diverting organics away from dumpsites,” he said.

The participants of the seminar are community leaders from Batangas Dos Fishermen’s Association, Brahma Kumaris, Bukid sa Himpapawid, Cavite Green Coalition- Ministri ng Pamamahala sa Kalikasan, Citizens’ Organization Concerned with Advocating Philippine Environmental Sustainability, Franciscan Movement for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation-Fellowship for the Care of Creation, Kupkop Kita Kabayan Foundation, Nagkakaisang Mananambakan ng Dumpsite Area, Inc., Sagip Pasig Movement and Sining Yapak.

Last year, Congress passed RA 10068, the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, to promote the practice of organic agriculture to increase farm productivity, aid in reducing pollution and destruction of the environment, and further protect the health of farmers, consumers and the general public, which the EcoWaste Coalition said should be widely supported.

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Thanks, Yang

Last week, EcoWaste Coalition observed World Environment by trooping to Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Metro Manila, not in protest, but in gratitude to Taiwanese food safety inspector.

According to the China Times website, the 52-year-old inspector, a mother of two surnamed Yang, first became suspicious in March of rare contaminants when she was routinely checking beverages to find out whether they were adulterated with any banned chemicals.

Yang’s diligence uncovered Taiwan’s latest tainted food scandal involving the massive use of the cancer-causing plasticizer DEHP in bottled beverages and dairy products.

Officials of Taiwan’s health department declined to divulge Yang’s full name “in order to maintain her privacy.”

Yang became suspicious of a new trace of contamination when she saw abnormal wave-shaped signals on her gas chromatography screen as she was inspecting certain sports and soft drinks. She spent two weeks identifying the signals as being caused by DEHP.

Last week, Taiwan’s health officials announced that DEHP has been detected in 16 samples of sports and soft drinks, including Sunkist lemon juice, Taiwan Yes energy-boosting drink, and a sports drink manufactured by Young Energy Source Co. All these drinks have been removed from store shelves.

In what the EcoWaste Coalition described as “a simple event” held outside the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Makati City, the environmentalists honored the Taiwanese food safety inspector, “for her perseverance in protecting the public good.”

“In the face of the snowballing toxic food crisis in Taiwan, we take a breather to say salamat po to ‘Mrs. Yang’ for her priceless service to public health and safety,” said retired nurse Elsie Brandes-De Veyra of the EcoWaste Coalition, which is campaigning for consumer access to information and for consumer protection against hazardous chemicals in goods.

Aside: Chinese women traditionally retain their maiden name even after marriage. For example, Mao Zedong’s fourth wife was still called Jiang Qing long after she married the Chinese communist leader. It is likely that calling the Taiwanese food safety inspector “Mrs. Yang” is inappropriate.

Whoever she really is, thanks just the same.

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Group raises warning on electronic waste

ELECTRONIC waste or E-waste dumped in Davao from other countries in the guise of being surplus products is becoming a nuisance to the environment and poses health risks.

Lawyer Richard Gutierrez, executive director of Ban Toxics, said it is an urgent topic that should be given attention, especially for countries like the Philippines, where discarded electronics are exported as second-hand goods.

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"We would like to emphasize on the ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment that would strictly determine and regulate the second-hand goods that are coming in our country, and for legislators to follow in making local guidelines to determine parameters on these products," Gutierrez said during the press conference at the Davao Medical School Foundation.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is the most comprehensive global environmental agreement on hazardous and other wastes.

Gutierrez added that although Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje have expressed their support, Ban Toxics would like to educate the public on the hazardous effects of e-waste that are present in our country.

E-waste contains a cocktail of toxic chemicals that are added to various electronics. These electronics are usually the cheap items found in surplus stores.

Ecowaste Coalition's Project themed Protect has found six to seven cheap toys from bargain centers that contain toxic plastics.

"And with the start of classes, we would like to ask the parents not to use plastic covers for their children books because it is made of polyvinylchloride (PVC) that are damaging to their health," said Rei Panaligan of Ecowaste Coalition.

"Sa paggawa pa lang ng plastic, there are toxins used already and if these materials with PVC are exposed to heat or if they will be burnt, it will emit toxins that are very hazardous," Gutierrez added.

Ban Toxic and Ecowaste Coalition, together with Interface Development Interventions (Idis) and Kinaiyahan Foundation, urged the public and consumers to be mindful of the electronics they buy and the subsequent e-waste they will produce.

Consumers should first research on products that are bio-hazards. A guide to greener electronic can be found in the website of Greenpeace and there are also lists of e-waste collectors at the DENR website.

Purchase electronics that have the RoHS logo, or the Restriction of Hazardous Substance directive, means that these products do not contain mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium nad polybrominated biphenyls and polybrominated biphenyl ethers - common toxins found in electronic gadgets.

They also recommend that consumers buy brands that have take back policies or has a good warranty offer, and look for gadgets that have rechargeable rather than disposable batteries.

"The message we are trying to convey is simple, the solution is in our hands," said Lisa Esquillo of Idis.

They also recommend the local government unit, especially the City Environment and Natural Resources, to educate the scavengers and their waste retrieval staff about the ill-effects of e-waste.

"Disposing these e-wastes improperly can be very hazardous to one's health, kaya dapat din nila matutunan ang proper disposal," Gutierrez said.

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Food for thought: Protect children from toxins

If you ask kids what their favorite “subject” in school is, they’d probably chorus with cherubic glee: “Recess!” Levity aside, what students eat in school has been an absorbing topic over the years. Hogging the headlines these days are the blacklisted toxic foods and drinks from Taiwan that have landed on our shores — and probably on the shelves of some stores. This has prompted a toxic watchdog to urge the Department of Education (DepEd) to come up with proactive measures that will protect students from these harmful foods and drinks.

“Now that we know which products from Taiwan are tainted with DEHP, we call on our education officials to welcome the new academic year with an enthusiastic campaign on food safety,” says Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste Coalition president.

Adding Teeth To Food Campaign

To add teeth to this food safety awareness and action campaign, Alvarez suggests that it should be carried out in cooperation with school administrators, teachers, non-teaching personnel, students, parents, and food service providers, concessionaires, and vendors.

What are these food products we should keep our children away from? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a tentative list of beverage and food products believed to be contaminated with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP, the dangerous chemical being blamed for the still unfolding toxic food scandal in Taiwan.

The FDA list of dreaded DEHP-tainted products from Taiwan includes: fruit juices, fruit juice powders, fruit concentrates, fruit candies, fruit tablets, fruit powders, sports drinks, teas, jelly, and yoghurt. DEHP, a suspected carcinogen, can damage the kidneys, liver, and lungs, and cause reproductive and developmental disorders such as underdeveloped penises and testicles in boys and early puberty in girls.

Zeroing In On School Canteens

Like any concerned parent, Alvarez asserts, “The campaign’s immediate objective should be to keep the tainted goods away from school canteens and snack kiosks, as well as convenience stores near schools. Just as important is educating parents, students, and other stakeholders to shun unhealthy foods such as those laden with synthetic and toxic chemicals, and those high in fat, salt, and sugar.”

Alvarez urges school officials to initiate dialogues with canteen operators and food concessionaires to ensure that no DEHP-tainted goods find their way into the school canteens. Likewise, convenience stores (which may be not-so-conveniently located around school campuses) should in no way sell recalled goods or high-risk products from Taiwan that have no safety certifications.

EcoWaste Coalition also enjoined all parents out there to exercise their right to ask questions, if only to ensure their children are not fed with injurious stuff. Hear ye, parents: You have the right to ask for full product details. You have the right to secure safety guarantee for your kids and get the best value for your hard-earned money.

Taiwanese Heroine Cited

To celebrate World Environment Day last Sunday, the EcoWaste Coalition honored the woman who called attention to these contaminated Taiwanese food and beverage products and caused their massive recall.

At simple rites held outside the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Makati City, Taiwan’s de facto embassy in the Philippines, members of the EcoWaste Coalition gave “Mrs. Yang,” a Taiwanese food safety inspector, a “Salamat Po” (Thank You) award “for her perseverance in protecting the public good.”

The 52-year-old heroine is an employee of Taiwan’s Department of Health - Food and Drug Administration (DOH-FDA) whose professional dedication led to the detection of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a toxic substance used as plasticizer in some Taiwanese drinks and foods.

These words of praise were heaped on Mrs. Yang: “Through the faithful performance of her duty, she has prevented the distribution and sale of more DEHP-tainted products in Taiwan and in importing countries like the Philippines, thus reducing consumer exposure to the cancer-causing DEHP, a toxic additive to plastics. Her meticulous and faithful performance of her job as a food safety inspector should be emulated by all public servants, especially by government officials and employees charged with ensuring that manufacturers and businesses fully comply with health and environmental laws such as those regulating chemical substances in products. Mrs. Yang is an exemplary model of a conscientious government regulator that every society needs in order to eliminate toxic threats to public health — particularly to the most vulnerable population groups — and the environment. We hope her action will inspire increased consumer vigilance against toxic harm and bring about lasting chemical reforms in our societies, including the implementation of toxics use reduction and clean production, food traceability processes, and good manufacturing audits, for the sake of public health and safety.”
Meanwhile, EcoWaste Coalition lauded the decision by local food and drug regulators led by FDA Director Suzette Lazo to protect local consumers from DEHP exposure with the issuance of FDA Advisory 2011-008, which directs the immediate recall of tainted goods from Taiwan.

Toxic Toys, Too

From toxic food, we go to toxic toys. Surely, our children are under constant threat from toxin-tainted products.

Thus, this urgent appeal from Thony Dizon on behalf of EcoWaste Coalition’s Project PROTECT (People Responding and Organizing against Toxic Chemical Threats): “We urge DepEd to enlist the help of health authorities in weeding out the toxic toys, as well as those that pose choking, laceration, physical and strangulation hazards to young children.”

He adds, “DepEd should take all precautionary measures to shield and save children from unsafe toys. They should come out with a health-based criteria on what toys can be donated and received. We should not let our guard down knowing that children are most prone to chemical and other hazards.”

Other chemicals of concern often found in toys include aniline, bisphenol A, brominated flame retardants, cadmium, chlorinated paraffins, chromium, formaldehyde, lead, nonylphenol, organotin, perfluorinated chemicals, and triclosan.

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DepEd asked: Protect studes from blacklisted Taiwan’s products

With schools set to reopen next Monday, a toxic watchdog exhorted the Department of Education (DepEd) to initiate proactive measures that will protect students from health-damaging foods and drinks, especially blacklisted products from Taiwan.

“Now that we know which products from Taiwan are tainted with DEHP, we call upon our education officials to welcome the new academic year with an enthusiastic campaign on food safety,” said Roy Alvarez, President, EcoWaste Coalition.

The food safety awareness and action campaign, according to Alvarez, should be rolled out in collaboration with school administrators, teachers, non-teaching personnel, students, parents, and food service providers, concessionaires and vendors.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday released a tentative list of beverage and food products believed to be contaminated with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP, the dangerous chemical blamed for the still unfurling toxic food scandal in Taiwan.

“The campaign’s immediate objective should be to keep the tainted goods away from school canteens and snack kiosks, as well as convenience stores near schools,” Alvarez said.

“Just as important is the objective of educating parents, students and other stakeholders to shun unhealthy foods such as those laden with synthetic and toxic chemicals, and those high in fat, salt and sugar,” he added.

School officials should instigate urgent dialogues with canteen operators and food concessionaires to ensure that no DEHP-tainted goods are used or offered for sale to students, the EcoWaste Coalition suggested.

Convenience stores should in no way sell recalled goods or sell high-risk products from Taiwan that have no safety certifications, the group emphasized.

The EcoWaste Coalition also stressed the importance of parents exercising their right to be inquisitive if only to ensure that their children are not fed with injurious stuff.

“You have the undeniable right to ask for full product details, secure safety guarantee for your kids and get the best value for your hard-earned money,” Alvarez said.

Some of the items in the FDA-issued list of DEHP-tainted products from Taiwan include fruit juices, fruit juice powders, fruit concentrates, fruit candies, fruit tablets, fruit powders, sports drinks, teas, jelly and yoghurt. Jason Faustino

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Iwasan ang mga school supplies na gawa sa PVC o poison plastic

Pasukan na naman. Abalang-abala na naman ang mga magulang sa pamimili ng mga gamit pang-eskwela ng kanilang mga anak gaya ng lunchbox, art supplies, bag, notebook, payong, at iba pa.

Subalit alam ba ninyo na marami sa mga ito ay may halo o gawa sa ipinagbabawal na polyvinyl chloride (PVC), o plastic number 3? Ang PVC, o ‘poison plastic’ ay delikado sa kalusugan at maging sa kalikasan dahil gumagamit ng cancer-causing chemicals para makabuo ng PVC. Sa pagkunsomo o paggamit ng PVC, maaaring matunaw sa tubig ang mga halong chemical kagaya ng cadmium, lead, organotins at phthalates. Sakaling kailangan sunugin ang PVC upang itapon o i-dispose, ito ay bumubuo naman ng dioxins.

Ang mga PVC softeners/plasticizers ay nagdudulot ng sakit kagaya ng asthma, autism, at mga problemang pang-developmental, nervous, reproductive and respiratory. Dahil dito, ipinagbawal na ng European Union at Estados Unidos ang paggamit ng PVC sa mga laruan ng mga bata kung kaya’t kailangan iwasan ang paggamit nito.

Subalit marami pa rin naglilipanang mga paninda dito sa PIlipinas na gawa sa PVC. Base sa pagsusuri ng EcoWaste Coalition, napag-alaman na mayroon DEHP ang ilang mga school supplies, kagaya ng green long plastic envelope, PVC plastic cover, PVC notebook cover, PVC plastic lunch bag, at PVC backpack. Ang DEHP ay isang human carcinogen na ginagamit sa paggawa ng PVC, at ito rin ang kemikal na laman ng mga pagkain mula sa Taiwan na ipinagbabawal ngayon ng Food & Drug Administration.

At ngayon ngang pasukan na naman, siguraduhin na bumili lamang ng mga school supplies na walang PVC.

Narito ang ilang tips sa mga magulang sa pagbili ng PVC-free school supplies ngayong pasukan:

Basahing mabuti ang itiketa ng mga bibilihin upang makasiguro.

Iwasan ang mga modeling clays na gawa sa PVC. Huwag bumili ng mga bag o backpacks na mayroon makintab na plastic designs dahil kadalasan ay may halo itong PVC at lead. Gayun din sa mga kapote, rainboots, handbags, jewelry, sinturon, at mga prints sa damit ng mga bata. Iwasan din ang payong na makintab at makukulay na gawa sa plastic dahil kadalasan ito ay gawa sa PVC. Bumili ng payong na gawa sa nylon.

Bumili lamang ng mga lunchboxes na gawa sa metal. Karamihan kasi sa mga plastic na lunch box ay gawa sa PVC o coated ng PVC. Sa pagbabalot naman ng mga baon o pagkain ng inyong mga anak, gumamit lamang ng PVC-free food wrap o butcher paper, wax paper, o cellulose bags.

Sa mga school supplies naman kagaya ng notebook at organizer, address book, iwasan ang mga spirals na coated ng colored plastic. Kadalasan ay gawa sa PVC ang plastic coating. Maging ang mga colored paper clips na ginagamit din sa mga opisina ay coated ng PVC kung kaya’t mas mabuti na gamitin ang plain metal paperclips.

Ito ay ilan lamang sa mga paalala sa mga mamimili ngayong pasukan upang maging ligtas sa kalusugan at makatulong sa kapiligiran.

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EcoWaste Coalition Honors Taiwanese food safety inspector who detected DEHP contamination

The EcoWaste Coalition on Friday gave a "Salamat Po" award to the woman behind the massive recall of Taiwanese beverage and food products containing a cancer-causing industrial chemical.

Citing latest available data from Taiwan's official website, the toxic watchdog reported that a total of 746 products from 216 companies have been listed as contaminated with di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP plasticizer.

In a simple event held outside the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Makati City, Taiwan’s de facto embassy in the Philippines, the environmentalists symbolically presented the award to “Mrs. Yang,” the Taiwanese food safety inspector, “for her perseverance in protecting the public good.”

Wearing traditional Chinese costumes, the environmentalists commended the 52-year old employee of Taiwan’s Department of Health - Food and Drug Administration (DOH-FDA) for her professional dedication that led to the detection of DEHP, a toxic substance used as plasticizer, in some Taiwanese drinks and foods.

“Mrs. Yang” was identified by Lo Chi-fang, Secretary-General of DOH-FDA, as the person responsible for detecting the DEHP contamination, refusing to disclose "Mrs. Yang's" complete name to protect her privacy.

“In the face of the snowballing toxic food crisis in Taiwan, we take a breather to say ‘salamat po’ to ‘Mrs. Yang’ for her priceless service to public health and safety,” said retired nurse Elsie Brandes-De Veyra of the EcoWaste Coalition, which is campaigning for consumer access to information and consumer protection against hazardous chemicals in goods.

The "Salamat Po" award stated that “through the faithful performance of her duty, Mrs. Yang has prevented the distribution and sale of more DEHP-tainted products in Taiwan and in importing countries like the Philippines, thus reducing consumer exposure to the cancer-causing DEHP, a toxic additive to plastics.”

“Mrs. Yang’s meticulous and faithful performance of her job as a food safety inspector should be emulated by all public servants, especially by government officials and employees charged with ensuring that manufacturers and businesses fully comply with health and environmental laws such as those regulating chemical substances in products,” the award text noted.

“Mrs. Yang is an exemplary model of a conscientious government regulator that every society needs in order to eliminate toxic threats to public health - particularly to the most vulnerable population groups - and the environment,” the award further stated.

“We hope her action will inspire increased consumer vigilance against toxic harm and bring about lasting chemical reforms in our societies, including the implementation of toxics use reduction and clean production, food traceability processes and good manufacturing audits, for the sake of public health and safety,” the award emphasized.

At the same time, the EcoWaste Coalition lauded the decision by local food and drug regulators led by FDA Director Suzette Lazo to protect local consumers from DEHP exposure with the issuance of FDA Advisory 2011-008, which directs the immediate recall of tainted goods from Taiwan.

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Environment group lauds Taiwanese inspector for detecting DEHP in food products

To mark the World Environment Day, the EcoWaste Coalition on Friday gave a “Salamat Po” award to the woman behind the massive recall of Taiwanese beverage and food products containing a cancer-causing industrial chemical.

Citing latest available data from the Taiwan’s official website, the toxic watchdog reported that a total of 746 products from 216 companies have been listed as contaminated with di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP plasticizer.

In a simple event held outside the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Makati City, Taiwan’s de facto embassy in the Philippines, the environmentalists symbolically presented the award to “Mrs. Yang,” the Taiwanese food safety inspector, “for her perseverance in protecting the public good.”

Wearing traditional Chinese costumes, the environmentalists commended the 52-year old employee of Taiwan’s Department of Health – Food and Drug Administration (DOH-FDA) for her professional dedication that led to the detection of DEHP, a toxic substance used as plasticizer, in some Taiwanese drinks and foods.

“Mrs. Yang” was identified by Lo Chi-fang, Secretary-General of DOH-FDA, as the person responsible for detecting the DEHP contamination, refusing to disclose “Mrs. Yang’s” complete name to protect her privacy.

“In the face of the snowballing toxic food crisis in Taiwan, we take a breather to say ‘salamat po’ to ‘Mrs. Yang’ for her priceless service to public health and safety,” said retired nurse Elsie Brandes-De Veyra of the EcoWaste Coalition, which is campaigning for consumer access to information and for consumer protection against hazardous chemicals in goods.

The “Salamat Po” award stated that “through the faithful performance of her duty, Mrs. Yang has prevented the distribution and sale of more DEHP-tainted products in Taiwan and in importing countries like the Philippines, thus reducing consumer exposure to the cancer-causing DEHP, a toxic additive to plastics.”

“Mrs. Yang’s meticulous and faithful performance of her job as a food safety inspector should be emulated by all public servants, especially by government officials and employees charged with ensuring that manufacturers and businesses fully comply with health and environmental laws such as those regulating chemical substances in products,” the award text noted.

“Mrs. Yang is an exemplary model of a conscientious government regulator that every society needs in order to eliminate toxic threats to public health – particularly to the most vulnerable population groups – and the environment,” the award further stated.

“We hope her action will inspire increased consumer vigilance against toxic harm and bring about lasting chemical reforms in our societies, including the implementation of toxics use reduction and clean production, food traceability processes and good manufacturing audits, for the sake of public health and safety,” the award emphasized.

At the same time, the EcoWaste Coalition lauded the decision by local food and drug regulators led by FDA Director Suzette Lazo to protect local consumers from DEHP exposure with the issuance of FDA Advisory 2011-008, which directs the immediate recall of tainted goods from Taiwan.

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Eco group asks DepEd to take steps vs DEHP-tainted products

An environmental group asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to take measures to protect students from food items tainted with DEHP or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.

The EcoWaste Coalition said the DepEd can now take action now that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified the products suspected of being contaminated with DEHP.

DEHP, a suspected carcinogen, can damage the kidneys, liver and lungs, and cause reproductive and developmental disorders such as underdeveloped penises and testicles in boys and early puberty in girls.

“Now that we know which products from Taiwan are tainted with DEHP, we call upon our education officials to welcome the new academic year with an enthusiastic campaign on food safety," EcoWaste president Roy Alvarez said in a blog post.

He added the food safety awareness and action campaign should be rolled out in collaboration with school administrators, teachers, non-teaching personnel, students, parents, and food service providers, concessionaires and vendors.

On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a tentative list of products believed to be contaminated with DEHP.

Alvarez said the campaign’s immediate objective should be to keep the tainted goods away from school canteens, snack kiosks, and convenience stores near schools.

The group also said school officials should initiate dialogues with canteen operators and food concessionaires to ensure that no DEHP-tainted goods are used or offered for sale to students.

On the other hand, it said convenience stores should not be allowed to sell recalled goods or high-risk products from Taiwan that have no safety certifications.

It added parents should exercise their right to be inquisitive if only to ensure that their children are not fed with the tainted items.

“You have the undeniable right to ask for full product details, secure safety guarantee for your kids and get the best value for your hard-earned money," Alvarez said.

EcoWaste also sought a crackdown of sorts on other unhealthy foods.

“Just as important is the objective of educating parents, students and other stakeholders to shun unhealthy foods such as those laden with synthetic and toxic chemicals, and those high in fat, salt and sugar," he said.

FDA advisory

In an advisory on Wednesday, the FDA listed the products, "whether registered or not with the FDA," that will be recalled and disposed of.

The FDA said products registered but not identified in the list shall be withdrawn from the market, and laboratory analysis will be required from them to confirm the absence of DEHP.

Only then shall these products be allowed for redistribution, it added.

The full list can be downloaded from the FDA website at http://www.bfad.gov.ph.

On Wednesday afternoon, the FDA uploaded a summary of implicated products worldwide, which included products from Taiwan to Singapore, Hong Kong, Xiamen and Beijing (China), and Canada.

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DepEd urged to bolster steps to protect kids from DEHP-tainted products

With schools set to reopen on June 6, a toxic watchdog exhorted the Department of Education (DepEd) to initiate proactive measures that will protect students from health-damaging foods and drinks, especially the blacklisted products from Taiwan.

“Now that we know which products from Taiwan are tainted with DEHP, we call upon our education officials to welcome the new academic year with an enthusiastic campaign on food safety," said Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste coalition president.

The food safety awareness and action campaign, according to Alvarez, should be rolled out in collaboration with school administrators, teachers, non-teaching personnel, students, parents, and food service providers, concessionaires and vendors.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday released a tentative list of beverage and food products believed to be contaminated with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP, the dangerous chemical blamed for the still unfurling toxic food scandal in Taiwan.

“The campaign’s immediate objective should be to keep the tainted goods away from school canteens and snack kiosks, as well as convenience stores near schools,” Alvarez said.

“Just as important is the objective of educating parents, students and other stakeholders to shun unhealthy foods such as those laden with synthetic and toxic chemicals, and those high in fat, salt and sugar," he added.

School officials should instigate urgent dialogues with canteen operators and food concessionaires to ensure that no DEHP-tainted goods are used or offered for sale to students, the EcoWaste Coalition suggested.

Convenience stores should in no way sell recalled goods or sell high-risk products from Taiwan that have no safety certifications, the group emphasized.

The EcoWaste Coalition also stressed the importance of parents exercising their right to be inquisitive if only to ensure that their children are not fed with injurious stuff.

“You have the undeniable right to ask for full product details, secure safety guarantee for your kids and get the best value for your hard-earned money,” Alvarez said.

Some of the items in the FDA-issued list of DEHP-tainted products from Taiwan include fruit juices, fruit juice powders, fruit concentrates, fruit candies, fruit tablets, fruit powders, sports drinks, teas, jelly and yoghurt.

DEHP, a suspected carcinogen, can damage the kidneys, liver and lungs, and cause reproductive and developmental disorders such as underdeveloped penises and testicles in boys and early puberty in girls.

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FDA says ‘high-risk’ food items have harmful chemical DEHP

With school opening in a few days, families shopping for snacks and “baon” for students should read food labels carefully.

The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) issued an alert for “high-risk” food products from Taiwan that contain the potentially harmful chemical Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP).

Supermarkets and retail stores will be asked to temporarily remove Taiwan-made “sports drinks, fruit juices and soft drinks”—until tests are conducted to determine if they are safe for public consumption, said the FDA advisory.

No brand names were cited since the government agency is still awaiting for a list of names from FDA counterparts in Taiwan.

In Manila, watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition went out and bought 30 bottles of various Taiwan-made beverages from grocery stores and supermarkets and posted a photo of the products in their blog.

The coalition urged the FDA to go beyond “monitoring” in the wake of the food-safety scandal in Taiwan, and to order all vendors to immediately stop selling until tests prove the products are DEHP-free and safe for human consumption.

The Taiwanese government last week ordered a massive recall of six categories of beverage and food products suspected of being tainted with DEHP—fruit juices, sports drinks, teas, fruit jams and preserves, food powders, and food or food supplement tablets.

As a further precautionary step, the Taiwanese government has likewise ordered schools to remove such products from canteens, candy shops and vending machines until they are proven safe, the EcoWaste Coalition said. In Manila, FDA Deputy Director Nazarita Tacandong said they have started collecting samples of juices for laboratory testing.

In its May 27 advisory, FDA Acting Director Suzette H. Lazo described DEHP as a substance used as a “plasticizer” in the making of medical devices like intravenous bags and tubing, blood bags and infusion tubing, and nasogastric tubes. High doses or prolonged exposure can have harmful effects.

“Children are especially prone to the harmful effects of high doses of DEHP or to repeated exposure, which can lead to testicular effects, fertility problems and toxicity to kidneys,” said Lazo.

Taiwanese authorities discovered that DEHP had been illegally added to a food product raw material known as “cloudy agent” used for emulsification. The Taiwan government informed the Department of Health that the material may have been imported to the Philippines by a company. Authorities are trying to trace the local counterpart of this company.

Among the products pulled out from store shelves in Taiwan are energy drinks, bottled tea and juices, fruit jam, and fruit jelly with ingredients made by Yu Shen Chemical Company.

The Taiwan FDA website identified the contaminated products as:
-Nature House Lactic Acid Bacteria (apple vinegar-flavored lactic acid powder) produced by King Car Group;
-Skinny Dietary Drinks by Chang Gung Biotechnology Corp.;
-Taiwan Sugar Ginger Clam Tablets by Taiwan Sugar Corporation; and,
-Dongli Sports Drinks and Dongli Lemon Sports Drinks.

As of May 27, the Taiwan FDA reported that “up to 465,638 bottles of DEHP-tainted beverages have been pulled out from store shelves. Also, up to 270,822 boxes and 68,924 packs of powdered probiotics and 28,539 kilos of fruit juices, fruit jam, powder and syrup, and yoghurt powder have been removed from shelves,” according to EcoWaste Coalition, an environment watchdog.

The group said that to date, close to 500 product items manufactured by 155 Taiwanese food and drink companies have been found to contain DEHP.

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Chinatown stores asked to stop selling Taiwan food products

An environmental group is urging store owners in Chinatown in Binondo, Manila, to be on the alert for contaminated Taiwan-made food products following a recent Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) warning.

The FDA recently advised the public to avoid Taiwanese fruit jams and preserves, fruit juices, sports drinks, teas, food powders and food or food supplement tablets, while the Taiwan government has yet to identify products illegally containing Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plastic-making chemical that can be dangerous when ingested in high doses.

The chemical could cause infertility and block development of male sex organs, FDA officials said.

Earlier this month, Taiwan issued a major recall of products, including more than 460,000 bottles of sports drinks and fruit juice, over fears they contained the chemical widely used in manufacturing PVC products.

Taipei warned Manila last week that DEHP could have been illegally added to food products that were exported to the Philippines.

On Tuesday morning, the EcoWaste Coalition went from store to store in Chinatown, bearing placards in Chinese and English that said “Don’t sell unless proven DEHP–free.”

They stopped by stores from Binondo Church to Sta. Cruz Church, weaving their way through Ongpin, Carvajal, Salazar, Masangkay, T. Alonzo and T. Mapua streets.

They gave supermarkets, groceries and drug stores a list of DEHP–contaminated products downloaded from the Taiwanese government website, and asked the sellers to pull out “high-risk” Taiwanese products from their shelves.

In a statement, Aileen Lucero, chemical safety campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition, appealed to “all importers, distributors, and vendors of high-risk beverage, food and medicinal goods from Taiwan to temporarily stop from selling such products until consumer safety from DEHP is totally guaranteed.”

“To date, almost 500 product items manufactured by 155 Taiwanese food and drink companies have been found to contain DEHP,” EcoWaste said in a statement.

The group also advised sellers that products that fail to secure DEHP-free certifications should be returned to importers or distributors for safe disposal.

The FDA had earlier warned that DEHP, especially when taken by children, could lead to testicular defects, kidney and fertility problems, and even cancer.

The FDA is monitoring some imported Taiwanese sport drinks, fruit juices and soft drinks that Taipei said may contain excessive amounts of DEHP, FDA spokesperson Jesusa Joyce Cirunay said.

“Our government has asked Taiwan for a list, and we are tracking these products,” she added.

Cirunay did not name the brands on the list, saying no traces of DEHP contamination have been found and there have been no reports of people falling ill in the Philippines.

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Toxic watchdog welcomes DOH's plan to conduct probe on lead-tainted toys

The EcoWaste Coalition, an advocate for children’s health and safety from harmful chemicals, welcomed the plan of the Department of Health (DOH) to conduct its own probe on wooden toys that were tested with high levels of lead, a neurotoxin.

Reacting to the EcoWaste Coalition’s toxic toy investigation, the DOH last Thursday told the EcoWaste Coalition they will get samples of the lead-tainted toys and have them analyzed for lead.

"If a toy tested positive with high levels of lead, we will issue a letter to the toy manufacturer or distributor for them to recall the said product," said Engr. Renato Ongkoy, Division Head of the DOH's Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research as he assured the group of the department's commitment to protect children from lead exposure.

“We welcome this pronouncement made by the DOH. As a precautionary action, we further urge our health authorities to immediately stop the sale of the lead-tainted toys until a new analysis has proven them safe for children 12 years and under,” said Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste Coalition president.

Last Tuesday, the EcoWaste Coalition revealed that six of the 11 imported and locally produced toys that it bought from registered shops and sent to the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, USA, for laboratory analysis using atomic absorption spectroscopy were found to contain elevated quantities of lead.

One sample, a colorful nautilus puzzle made by a Cebu-based toy manufacturer had lead levels between 6,039 to 45,671 parts per million (ppm), which is way above the 90 ppm "maximum allowable total lead content" for children's products under the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008.

The other toy samples with parts loaded with lead include a wooden ornamental pin with one part containing up to 20,740 ppm lead; a tractor with wagon with lead concentrations between 2,055 and 11,764 ppm; another pin with two parts having 4,101 and 4,888 ppm lead; a “learn to count” puzzle with lead levels up to 152 ppm; and a barnyard puzzle with one part having 95 ppm lead.

Toxicologist Dr. Bessie Antonio of the East Avenue Medical Center, who spoke at the launch of the test results, identified a range of health problems linked with children’s exposure to lead such as the damage to the brain and the nervous system.

Other problems associated with lead poisoning include speech and language handicaps and other developmental delays, low intelligence quotient and other learning disabilities and disorders, attention deficit disorder and other behavioral problems, reduced bone and muscle growth, etc.

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