Some Christmas ornaments and decorations may contain toxic chemicals that may be hazardous to the public’s health and the environment, the environment organization EcoWaste Coalition said.
To join the festivity of the Christmas season, people are beginning to decorate their houses with sparkly and merry ornaments. However, the group warns consumers on which items to avoid when shopping for the said decorations.
“It’s again the time of the year when homes, schools, offices, and everything else are adorned with things that add to the magic of Christmas. However, not all Christmas decorations are created equally,” she emphasized. "Some may contain ingredients or components that pose a threat to our health, as well as the environment,” EcoWaste Coalition National Coordinator Aileen Lucero said.
The group walked the streets of Binondo and Tondo, Manila City, Monumento, Caloocan City, Cubao, and Quezon City in November, to purchase assorted items that are often hung and displayed at homes. The 55 items purchased consisted of parols, garlands, Christmas tree embellishments, and other types of ornaments that represent known Yuletide figures like Santa Claus and the Gingerbread Man.
As a result, the following observations and findings were enumerated by the group:
Parols
The parols bought contained chemicals that exceeded the required amount for all plastic types. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Cadmium, one of the chemicals found “exerts toxic effects on the kidneys as well as the skeletal and respiratory systems.”
It is also classified as a human carcinogen.
Christmas Lights
10 of the lights were found not to carry the Philippine Standard (PS) mark and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker. According to the group, this indicates non-compliance with the required quality and safety certification process. Moreover, some of them were also found to contain lead at an exceeding amount that is harmful to human health.
Other Christmas Ornaments
A set of Christmas balls contained harmful chemicals like lead and bromine. The group stressed that the significant levels of bromine in the said items indicate the use of recycled plastic from electronic waste with brominated flame retardant (BFR) chemicals. The said chemical is linked to health complications such as reduced fertility, learning and memory problems, and thyroid disruption.
Some of the Christmas ornaments are also powered with button cell batteries, which are not securely fastened. While 13 decorations are embellished with glitters made of aluminum and plastic. Its small size can threaten aquatic organisms and humans when ingested.
For a safer and healthier Christmas season, EcoWaste suggests the following:
- Choose parols made of paper and Indigenous materials like bamboo and coconut husk
- Pick quality and safe Christmas lights with an authentic PS mark or ICC sticker to avoid electric shock and fire hazard
- Get decorations or ornaments that are child-resistant packaging
- Buy decorations marked safe from BFRs and other harmful substances
- Go for plastic-free decorations that are made of fabrics and native materials
