SINABI ng environmental health group na EcoWaste Coalition na nadiskubre nito na may mga mapangapanib na kemikal ang matatatagpuan sa mga ibinibentang school schools sa merkado.
Sinabi ni EcoWaste Coalition National Coordinator Aileen Lucero na base sa 85 iba’t ibang mga school supply at accessory na sinuri mula sa Manila, Quezon City, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iligan City and Lipa City mula noong Hunyo 4 hanggang Hulyo 9, 38 rito ang nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng lead at cadmium.
“Our recent market investigation shows that school supplies and accessories made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or vinyl plastic and those coated with paint may contain toxic cadmium and lead, and are sold with no warning labels,” sabi ni Lucero.
Idinagdag ni Lucero na 31 sa 40 eraser na ipinasuri ng grupo sa Wonjin Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH) sa South Korea, nadiskubreng nagtataglay ng toxic phthalates, kabilang ang DEHP, na posibleng carcinogen.
“Lead and cadmium belong to the World Health Organization’s list of 10 chemicals of major public health concern. These hazardous substances are also included in the country’s Priority Chemical List consisting of chemicals which the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has established to potentially pose unreasonable risk to public health, workplace and the environment,” dagdag ni Lucero.
