Group warns vs toxic Halloween costumes, toys

MANILA, Philippines - A group warned the public yesterday against buying Halloween costumes and toys that contain toxic metals.

“Our investigation indicates that some Halloween items are laced with health-damaging toxic metals. Instead of adding excitement and fun to the celebration, these products may in fact endanger children’s health,” said Thony Dizon, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect.

Children are “more vulnerable” to toxic metals because they “consume more food and water and inhale more air per unit of body weight compared to adults,” according to Dr. Bessie Antonio, vice president of the Philippine Society of Clinical and Occupational Toxicology.

This is the third year that the group analyzed Halloween-themed items with an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.

Members of EcoWaste bought 90 products, costing P20 to P200 each, from various retail outlets in Manila and Quezon Cities, including leading department stores and bargain shopping malls.

The group found that 20 of the products contained at least one toxic metal above regulatory limits. Lead, a potent neurotoxin that is particularly harmful to children, was detected in 18 samples above the allowable limit of 90 parts per million.

EcoWaste urged consumers to shun products that fail to provide complete labeling information, including chemical ingredients and health risks, if any. This should apply to all Halloween items, including body and face paints, the group said.

“We should also encourage kids to create their own eco-friendly Halloween costumes without spending money by using safe, recycled materials,” Dizon said.

The group added that parents should remind children not to put Halloween products in their mouths and to wash their hands after playing with such products, especially before meals, to avoid chemical as well as bacterial ingestion.