BAN Toxics urges regulatory agencies for lab tests on suspected toxic batteries, advices public to exercise due diligence when purchasing to reduce health and environmental risks

Wazzup Pilipinas!?



Toxics and waste watchdog BAN Toxics has warned the public to practice due diligence when purchasing China-made cheap AA batteries containing high levels of lead and cadmium. Priced between Php 20 and Php 25 for a two-piece set, Kingever Extra Heavy Duty AA batteries are sold on sidewalks and in bargain shops in commercial hubs such as Divisoria, Manila. A quick google search of said products also reveal they are widely available in popular online shopping platforms such as Shopee, and Lazada.

The battery packaging features a “Do Not Dispose of in Household Trash” symbol due to lead content. The label “carbon” printed on the battery itself indicates that it is a zinc-carbon type battery, which typically does not contain cadmium like Ni-Cd batteries. The same brand and model of AA batteries available on Shopee, from the only shop using the name Kingever Store, claims that the batteries contain 0% lead, mercury, and cadmium, and that they have several certifications, including CE (Conformité Européenne), RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), and ISO 9001, among others. Additionally, on Alibaba.com, the official account of China-based Jinjiu Technology Co., Ltd., the company that produces Kingever Batteries, advertises the same claims.

However, BAN Toxics detected high concentrations of lead ranging from 1,250 to 6,500 parts per million (ppm) and cadmium from 160 to 250 ppm using an Olympus Vanta C Series X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) chemical analyzer.

Both lead and cadmium are identified among the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). Both naturally occurring heavy metals are highly toxic to human health and the environment. Exposure to lead can lead to chronic and serious health issues across all age groups, with children being especially vulnerable to its neurotoxic effects. There are no safe levels of exposure to lead (UNEP, 2020). Cadmium is classified as carcinogenic to humans and may also cause a range of adverse health effects on various organs, including the kidneys, lungs, and bones. Cadmium is highly toxic to humans and the environment, even at very low exposure levels (UNEP, 2020).

BAN Toxics has yet to verify whether the same batteries sold by the Kingever Store on Shopee live up to their claims and does not rule out the possibility that those sold in physical bargain stores may be counterfeit. Nevertheless, BAN Toxics is urging regulatory agencies to investigate whether these products are properly registered and to take appropriate action.

“Batteries like these are essentially common household items, and their sale exposes the public—especially children—to highly toxic chemicals. They are even marketed for use in toys. We urge the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to take immediate action to ensure public safety,” said Thony Dizon, BAN Toxics Campaign and Advocacy officer.

The group urges the FDA to conduct immediate laboratory tests and analyses on these widely sold commodities. It also calls the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local government units to speed up disposal infrastructure development and information campaigns on proper e-waste disposal, warning that “e-wastes containing hazardous material, if not properly managed, pose serious risks on human health and the environment.”

The DENR Chemical Control Order (CCO) for cadmium does not address the presence of this chemical in products such as batteries, toys, and electronic equipment. In contrast, the CCO for lead outlines stricter prohibitions on lead-containing products, including toys, paints, and school supplies, among others. To BAN Toxics' knowledge, there are no specific restrictions in place in the country regarding the use of cadmium and lead in household disposable batteries, unlike in regions such as the European Union, as well as in countries like the United States, Canada, and Japan.



BAN Toxics emphasizes that unregistered and non-compliant products that do not meet safety standards, especially those used in toys, should be immediately removed from the market. #

When Kindness Cultivates, a Brighter Future Blooms: Donation Drive for Ecosoc Scholars

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

For 66 years, the UP Economics Society (UP Ecosoc) has stood as a beacon of service, excellence, and tradition. Rooted in these values, one of their missions has been to uplift students by providing them with the educational support they need to thrive. As UP Ecosoc celebrates their 66th anniversary this year, they continue this legacy through a donation drive called “BLOOM: For the Benefit of the UP Economics Society Scholarship Program.”

The BLOOM donation drive is dedicated to supporting the organization’s beloved scholars.

These scholars, who embody the promise of a brighter future, face various challenges that threaten their academic pursuits. The donations collected will go directly toward funding essential resources, including tuition fees, school supplies, and other educational needs.

Education is the foundation of a thriving society. By supporting these scholars, you are not only helping them achieve their dreams but also investing in the future of our community. Every donation, no matter the amount, brings us one step closer to ensuring that these students can reach their full potential.

The donation drive will officially bloom on September 9, 2024. Interested donors may send their support through the following donation channels:

0927 774 7832

Michael Vincent Largo

Gcash

Jeri Elise Racpan Sunga

1096 6600 1376

UnionBank Of The Philippines

Kindly send your proof of donation through this link: https://bit.ly/EM66Donations

Remember that every contribution counts! Donation lines will close on October 6, 2024.

Toxic and Waste Watchdog Inspects Busted Lamp Stockpile in QC Barangay, Detects Mercury Leakage

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Toxic watchdog group BAN Toxics recently detected mercury leakage from a stockpile of busted fluorescent lamps stored in a barangay in Quezon City. Following a series of consultations by the group with barangays around the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) for the Philippine Healthcare and mercury Wastes Management Project (PHCWMP), officials from Barangay Blue Ridge A informed BAN Toxics about their stockpile.

According to Barangay Captain Gabriel Legaspi, the stockpile was collected from their community as part of the Quezon City Local Government Unit’s (LGU) previous efforts to ensure the proper disposal of hazardous waste from households. However, Legaspi noted that the last collection of Quezon City LGU of such waste was probably around 2018, and since then, they have already accumulated six drumloads, each containing about 50 busted fluorescent lamps.

On September 6, 2024, a team from BAN Toxics, led by the group’s Campaign and Advocacy Officer, Thony Dizon, inspected the stockpile. Using a portable Olympus Vanta C Series X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, the group detected mercury leakage of up to 130 parts per million (ppm) from some of the lamps. The stockpile was stored in a covered shed inside the barangay LGU compound, which used to serve as their material recovery facility (MRF).

According to Jam Lorenzo, BAN Toxics Deputy Executive Director, a 130 ppm leakage from busted fluorescent lamps is relatively high, and there is a strong probability that the ambient air inside the shed is already contaminated. He pointed out that mercury from fluorescent lamps shouldn't be detectable by an XRF analyzer unless there is leakage.

BAN Toxics has advised the barangay to temporarily cover and seal the stockpile to prevent further contamination and to limit access to the shed. If entry is necessary, they should ensure that personal protective equipment is worn. Meanwhile, Barangay Captain Legaspi said they will follow up with the Quezon City LGU to assist in the proper transport and disposal of the stockpile.

Under Republic Act 6969, the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990,” busted fluorescent lamps are classified as hazardous waste due to their mercury content. Other related laws and regulatory policies also govern the management of fluorescent lamp waste, including Republic Act 9003, the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,” Republic Act 7394, the “Consumer Act of the Philippines,” and the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2013-09-2001 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Energy (DoE).

At the level of the LGU, Section 5 of Quezon City Ordinance 2350-2014 states that busted fluorescent lamps and spent batteries from “households, government and public institutions shall be separated from domestic wastes” and “shall be brought to the Barangay MRF for temporary storage until collection by the city-contracted hazardous waste collector/transporter/treater.”

“We call on Brgy. Blue Ridge A and the Quezon City LGU’s Department of Sanitation and Cleanup Works (DSQC) to immediately coordinate and address the stockpile to prevent further mercury contamination. We also urge DSQC to conduct a survey in other barangays of Quezon City to determine if there are existing stockpiles,” Dizon said.

Dizon likewise called on the Department of Energy to revisit JAO 2013-09-2001, also known as the Lighting Industry Waste Management Guidelines. This JAO mandates producers to develop a lamp waste management plan, which includes establishing a lamp waste management facility. However, to BAN Toxics' knowledge, this has not been fully implemented.

Mercury is a highly toxic chemical that can cause irreparable damage to the nervous system. Inhaling mercury vapor can adversely affect the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as the lungs and kidneys, and can potentially be fatal. It has long environmental persistence and global mobility—cycling through the atmosphere, ocean, and land. Its emissions and releases can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain, posing a significant threat to human health and the environment.

Under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty to which the Philippines is a party, and the DENR Administrative Order 2019-20, “Revised Chemical Control Order for Mercury and Mercury Compounds,” certain types of fluorescent lamps should already have been phased out by 2022.

Currently, BAN Toxics is working with the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau on the PHCWMP, which has one of its main project components focused on the management, reduction, and disposal of mercury waste from healthcare facilities, including fluorescent lamp waste. In recent weeks, BAN Toxics has been conducting data collection activities in barangays surrounding hospitals involved in the project, such as QMMC, Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City, and Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City.

Officially launched on December 6, 2023, the PHCWMP is a five-year project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and being implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), with the DENR-EMB as the national lead agency and BAN Toxics as the executing entity. PHCWMP aims to reduce the release and emissions of hazardous chemicals in healthcare wastes through environmentally sound practices.



Editor’s note: After BAN Toxics’ visit, Barangay Blue Ridge A coordinated with the Quezon City DSQC to request the collection of their stockpile of busted lamps. They have also secured the drums with protective covers and seals to prevent further contamination. The stockpile is now ready for pick-up.