Eco group warns vs unsafe school supplies

As parents continue to shop for school supplies in time for the opening of classes in June, an ecological group cautioned them to watch out for unsafe school items. The EcoWaste Coalition particularly warned against buying goods made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), also known as vinyl or plastic number “3." “PVC products are loaded with many additives that can transfer into the environment, posing chemical risks to humans, especially to young children, and, as a precautionary measure, must be avoided," said Anthony Dizon, coordinator of EcoWaste's Project PROTECT (People Responding and Organizing against Toxic Chemical Threats). In an article on the group's blog site, Dizon also voiced concern about phthalates, which are added to PVC plastics to make them softer, more flexible and durable. “To minimize children’s exposure to chemical poisons in school supplies, we urge parents to assert their rights as consumers to demand for complete product information and for safe products without hazardous contents such as phthalates," he said. In May 2010, a Taiwan-based laboratory found five common school supplies that EcoWaste members bought in the Philippines to contain high levels of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a suspected human carcinogen. These included a green long plastic envelope (19.881 percent DEHP), a PVC plastic book cover (18.997 percent DEHP), a PVC notebook cover (18.543 percent DEHP), a PVC plastic lunch bag and a PVC bagpack (both with 17.120 percent DEHP). EcoWaste said the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 sets the limit for DEHP and five other phthalates at 0.1 percent of any children's product for ages 12 and under. The findings prompted then Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Mona Valisno to promise a probe on the toxic contents of school supplies. But Dizon said the DepEd has yet to make these findings public. “We are not sure if the Department of Education was able to conduct its own investigation as promised by then Secretary Valisno. If they did, we request them to publicize their findings," Dizon said. Phthalates linked to serious ailments EcoWaste also said studies in animals and humans have linked phthalates to serious ailments such as endocrine disorders, reproductive abnormalities, asthma, kidney damage and liver cancer. This prompted the European Union in 2005 and the United States in 2008 to take action by prohibiting six types of phthalates in children’s toys and products. Some tips To avoid the hazards of PVC school supplies, EcoWaste offers some tips listed below, which it culled from the US-based Center for Health, Environment and Justice:

1. Art Supplies: Avoid modeling polymer clays made of PVC. 2. Backpacks: Avoid backpacks with shiny plastic designs as they often contain PVC and may contain lead. 3. Clothing and Accessories: Look for PVC-free materials in rain wear (i.e. rain boots and raincoats), prints on clothing, and accessories such as handbags, jewelry and belts. 4. Food Wrap: Use PVC-free butcher paper, waxed paper, parchment paper, low density polyethylene (LDPE) or cellulose bags. 5. Lunchboxes: Avoid plastic lunch boxes that are made of or lined with PVC. Use cloth lunch bags or metal lunchboxes. 6. Utensils and Dishware: Use stainless steel utensils. 7. Notebooks: Avoid notebooks containing metal spirals coated with colored plastic. The colored plastic coating on the metal spirals usually contains PVC. Select notebooks with uncovered metal spirals to avoid PVC. 8. Organizers and Address Books: Choose organizers/ address books made with sustainably harvested wood, metal, or paper covers. Avoid those made of plastic – these sometimes contain PVC. 9. Packaging of School Supplies: Avoid single-use disposable packaging, or those marked PVC or plastic number 3, whenever possible. Avoid products packaged in unlabeled plastics, such as clamshells and blister packs, which may contain PVC. Choose products with packaging made from more easily recycled materials like paper or cardboard. 10. Paperclips: Stick to the plain metal paperclips. Colored paper clips are coated with PVC. 11. Three-Ring Binders: Use cardboard, fabric-covered, or polypropylene binders. Most 3-ring binders are made of PVC. 12. Umbrellas: Avoid shiny and colorful plastic umbrellas as these are typically made out of PVC. Look for those made out of other materials such as nylon.