DOH, DENR ban use of cyanide cleaners

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have imposed a ban on the use of solutions with cyanide and other toxic substances in cleaning silver jewelry.

In a joint advisory, Health Secretary Enrique Ona and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said there has been an “increasing public health concern” over cases of poisoning attributed to such solutions, as documented by the University of the Philippines-National Poison Management and Control Center.

“The public is hereby warned on buying unregistered and/or unlabeled silver jewelry cleaning solutions/agents proliferating in the market today,” the joint advisory read.

The ban was prompted by laboratory analysis of samples of silver cleaning solutions showing “elevated levels of cyanide clearly posing imminent danger or even death to humans, particularly when accidentally or deliberately ingested.”

“The DOH and the DENR declare silver-jewelry cleaning solution-containing cyanide and other toxic substances as threat to health and safety and therefore reiterate the strict prohibition of their sale in the market,” the officials added.

The two agencies have warned all commercial establishments and jewelry shops against selling or dispensing unregistered and unlabeled silver cleaner solution.

Registered importers, distributors and manufacturers of cyanide and cyanide compounds are warned of distributing banned products.