Group warns vs toxic souvenir items

MANILA, Philippines - Souvenir items sold in various tourist destinations in the country may contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to health, an environmental watchdog warned yesterday.

 EcoWaste Coalition reported that 127 or 79 percent of the items they bought at local tourist spots were found to contain one or more toxic substance.

“Souvenir products that local and foreign tourists get from gift stores as a token of their visit may pose health or safety risk,” Thony Dizon, EcoWaste Coalition coordinator, said.

Dizon said among the chemicals found in souvenir items are antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury.

He said exposure to lead could cause irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and reduced intelligence.

“Lead is released as toxic dust as the product ages or when swallowed by children through their casual hand-to-mouth behavior, damaging their health even at very low doses,” Dizon said.

Among the toxin-laced souvenir items were ballpens, cellphone trinkets, coin purses, fridge magnets, key chains, pen or pencil holders, shot glasses, toy ukuleles, and wall decors that are often sold for P7.50 to P180 each.

He said these items could be bought in the cities of Baguio (25 samples), Cebu (34 samples), Davao (43 samples), and Manila (25 samples).

The group called on the government to ban the use of lead and other toxic metals in manufacturing souvenir products.  

“We are also appealing to manufacturers to use unleaded paint for their crafts,” Dizon said.