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Group finds some back-to-school goods bad for children's health
As the 19th Congress drew to a close last Wednesday, the toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition urged members of the next congress to prioritize the passage of a framework legislation that will hopefully set the stage for the promulgation of regulatory standards and measures banning hazardous chemicals in school supplies and other products marketed for children’s use.
“We appeal to our new batch of lawmakers at both houses of the 20th Congress to list the enactment of a safe and non-toxic children’s product law among their top priorities,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition. “For our children’s health and future, we need a comprehensive ban on dangerous chemicals used in the production of children’s products, and we need to make chemicals in products labeling mandatory to guide consumers in making informed choices.”
“We seek legislative champions from all parties who will see the process through the end and get a strong law passed for the health and well-being of every Filipino child,” she emphasized.
“The sale of children’s products with hidden hazardous chemicals is deeply concerning. We need to enact laws and regulations that will protect them from being exposed to such chemicals, which can put their health and development at risk,” said Dr. Geminn Louis Apostol, environmental health specialist, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health – Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI). "Children are more vulnerable to toxic exposures because of their higher intake of air, water and food relative to their body weight, their usual hand-mouth and hand-object behaviors, and because their bodily systems and defenses are still developing.”
The EcoWaste Coalition proposed the adoption of a framework law to affirm the state’s policy and commitment to uphold children’s right to be adequately protected against hazardous chemicals lurking in products created for their use and enjoyment, and to set the objectives, targets and mechanisms for achieving them.
The results of its latest test buys targeting an assortment of back-to-school essentials from backpacks to raincoats prompted the EcoWaste Coalition to call for a legislative response to address the threats posed by hazardous chemicals in school supplies and other children’s products, as well as to ensure that products are properly tested and labeled before being peddled in the marketplace.
From May 31 to June 5, the group bought assorted school supplies from general merchandise stores located in Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon and Taguig Cities. It then subjected the purchased items to X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) screening, which can identify and measure elements without destroying the sample.
Of the 95 items bought and analyzed, 34 were found to contain certain chemicals of concern, including lead (a potent neurotoxin) and cadmium (a cancer-causing substance). The non-detection of hazardous chemicals in many of the items is proof that safer children’s products posing no chemical risks can be produced.
--- Seven of the 10 stainless steel tumblers were found coated with leaded paints with levels ranging from 1,807 parts per million (ppm) to 61,850 ppm, way above the 90 ppm legal limit. Five of these highly-leaded tumblers were obtained from sidewalk vendors. None of the tumblers provided complete labeling information and there was no precautionary warning about lead paint.
---Seven of the 14 backpacks screened positive for cadmium and/or lead. An unbranded kiddie backpack with a Princess cartoon character has 1,113 ppm lead, while an unbranded module bag has 238 ppm cadmium and 599 ppm lead.
---Six of the eight raincoats made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic contained cadmium up to 531 ppm. A yellow raincoat was found to contain 439 ppm cadmium and 1,316 ppm lead.
Additionally, 10 other products were made of PVC plastic (or a total of 18). PVC plastic contains numerous chemical additives, including plasticizers called phthalates that are used to soften PVC plastic (costly laboratory tests are required for phthalate analysis).
Also, the black plastic palette of 13 out of 20 water colors were found laden with up to 8,480 ppm bromine indicating the probable use of recycled plastic from electronic waste with brominated flame retardant chemicals (the plastic casings of TVs and other e-waste are usually black, yielding black plastic when recycled).
Also, 10 crayon products sampled were not labeled as “non-toxic." Crayons, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) must have this marking aside from the other required labeling information.
For children’s health and safety, the EcoWaste Coalition urged consumers to consider these buying tips:
1. Read the product label carefully. Avoid poorly labelled products.
2. Avoid PVC plastic school supplies as much as possible.
3. If you have already bought products with strong chemical odor such as those made of PVC plastic, place them outside for a while until the smell is lessened.
4. Pick “phthalate free” or “PVC-free” erasers. Avoid scented and food-shaped erasers.
5. Choose crayons and other art materials with a “non-toxic” mark.
6. Opt for plain stainless steel water bottles, and avoid painted ones unless certified “lead safe."
"No child should be exposed to harmful chemicals and products that can put their health and development at risk," the EcoWaste Coalition concluded.
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EcoWaste Coalition Urges 20th Congress to Enact Law Banning Toxic Chemicals in School Supplies and Children’s Products
Alarm Raised Over Hazardous Substances in — As Filipino families brace for another academic year, a dark shadow looms over the excitement of new backpacks, crayons, and water bottles. What should be a season of learning and growth has been tainted by an alarming truth: some school supplies marketed to children are loaded with hazardous chemicals.
In a bold and impassioned appeal, the EcoWaste Coalition, a staunch advocate for environmental and public health, is calling on the 20th Congress of the Philippines to prioritize the passage of a groundbreaking law that will finally rid children’s products of dangerous substances like lead, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants—chemicals that have no place in the hands of our youth.
“We appeal to our new batch of lawmakers at both houses of Congress to list the enactment of a safe and non-toxic children’s product law among their top priorities,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition. “For our children’s health and future, we need a comprehensive ban on dangerous chemicals used in the production of children’s products, and we need mandatory labeling to guide consumers in making informed choices.”
Toys or Toxins? The Shocking Results of Chemical Testing
From May 31 to June 5, EcoWaste conducted a sweeping toxic audit of 95 school items from stores across Metro Manila—spanning Caloocan to Taguig. The findings were chilling:
34 out of 95 items were found to contain chemicals of grave concern, including lead, a known neurotoxin, and cadmium, a carcinogen.
7 out of 10 stainless steel tumblers were coated in leaded paint, with concentrations reaching up to 61,850 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 90 ppm by more than 687 times. These were being sold by sidewalk vendors—without proper labels or warnings.
7 out of 14 backpacks tested positive for lead or cadmium. A kiddie bag with a cartoon princess had 1,113 ppm lead.
6 out of 8 PVC raincoats contained cadmium levels up to 531 ppm, with one yellow raincoat showing 1,316 ppm lead.
And it doesn’t end there.
EcoWaste also found:
13 out of 20 watercolor sets had black plastic palettes with up to 8,480 ppm bromine, pointing to the use of recycled e-waste materials laden with toxic flame retardants.
10 crayon brands failed to carry the mandatory “non-toxic” label—an oversight that could cost lives if left unaddressed.
Children: The Most Vulnerable
Environmental health specialist Dr. Geminn Louis Apostol of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health – Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI) warns that children’s biological makeup makes them particularly susceptible.
“Children are more vulnerable to toxic exposures because of their higher intake of air, water, and food relative to body weight, their hand-to-mouth behavior, and because their systems are still developing,” said Dr. Apostol. “We are duty-bound to ensure that their school environments are safe, not silent battlegrounds for chemical exposure.”
A Call for Legislative Action
The EcoWaste Coalition is not merely issuing a warning—it is demanding action. The group proposes a comprehensive framework law that will:
Affirm the state’s duty to safeguard children from toxic exposures;
Ban hazardous substances in children’s products outright;
Require full labeling and disclosure of chemical ingredients;
Create stringent standards and testing protocols for school and toy products;
Hold violators accountable, including retailers and manufacturers who peddle poison under the guise of education.
“We seek legislative champions from all political stripes who will not abandon this cause until a strong, enforceable law is enacted,” Lucero stressed.
Safer Alternatives Are Possible
The silver lining is that not all products tested positive for harmful chemicals, proving that safer alternatives already exist and are viable for mass production.
To help consumers make safer choices while awaiting legislative reform, EcoWaste Coalition issued these practical tips:
Read product labels—avoid items lacking proper information.
Say no to PVC plastic, especially those with strong chemical odors.
Air out items with chemical smells before use.
Pick erasers marked “phthalate-free” or “PVC-free” and avoid food-shaped or scented ones.
Buy crayons and art materials with the “non-toxic” mark.
Use plain stainless-steel bottles, avoiding painted ones unless certified “lead-safe”.
A Nation’s Responsibility
This is not merely a consumer issue. This is a matter of national integrity and responsibility. In a society that champions education as a great equalizer, we must not allow our youngest citizens to suffer silently from toxic products masked as tools of learning.
“No child should be exposed to harmful chemicals and products that can put their health and development at risk,” the EcoWaste Coalition concluded.
Final Words: A Plea to the 20th Congress
The moment is ripe for decisive action. The children of this nation—the very future of the Philippines—deserve nothing less than an unwavering commitment to their safety.
As we turn the page to a new chapter in legislative governance, will the 20th Congress rise to the challenge?
The eyes of millions of Filipino children and their families are watching.
Ross Flores Del Rosario is the founder of Wazzup Pilipinas, a multi-awarded Filipino online media platform advocating for culture, sustainability, and national empowerment through informed public discourse.
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Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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