A new study has revealed that toys and products for kids, made from recycled plastic, contain toxic substances.
According to XRF analysis, all 160 tested samples contained one or more hazardous chemicals, including mercury, lead, bromine, cadmium, arsenic, and other harmful heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
A research team of the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) and BAN Toxics of the Philippines disclosed the findings at a press briefing, held at ESDO's head office in Dhaka on Thursday.
Syed Marghub Murshed, former secretary and ESDO chairperson, highlighting the gravity of the situation, said: "The presence of such hazardous chemicals in children's products is an urgent public health issue. We must act swiftly to protect our future generation from these invisible threats."
Siddika Sultana, executive director of ESDO, stressed the long-term impact of such chemicals on children's health.
"Exposure to toxic chemicals at an early age leads to developmental, cognitive and physical issues that can last lifetime. This is a crisis that demands immediate regulatory intervention," she noted.
Jashaf Shamir Lorenzo, deputy executive director of BAN Toxics, and Thony Dizon, its campaigner, issued a joint statement.
They noted, "The initial results of our joint study highlight a troubling reality - our children are daily exposed to various toxic chemicals that can impact their development and long-term health."
"The same toys we found in the local market in Bangladesh are also sold openly in other Asian countries like the Philippines. The situation sheds light on the trans-boundary nature of the problem as well as the need for regional and global approaches towards ensuring that unsafe products are removed from the markets," they added.
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