Toxics group releases 15-item list to curb sales of mercury-laced cosmetics

A toxics watchdog has lauded the government after renowned toxicologist Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go was appointed head of the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In a statement, the EcoWaste Coalition said that Go's appointment has "buoyed up expectations for tougher action to rid the market of dangerous cosmetics."

The group also expressed hope that the agency will further strengthen itself towards becoming a “center of regulatory excellence” dedicated to protecting the public health under his watch.

The group added that it was its duty to offer some suggestions and insights to help the FDA "reinforce its ongoing work to curb, if not eradicate, the unlawful sale of skin whitening creams containing dangerous amounts of mercury," Edwin Alejo, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition, said in a letter sent to Go.

The letter was signed by 20 environment and health advocates, including film actor Roy Alvarez, Miss Earth Philippines titlist Cathy Untalan, educator Dean Antonio La Viña, environmental lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, pulmonologist Dr. Maricar Limpin, breastfeeding champion Ines Fernandez, climate defender Dr. Helen Mendoza, toxics campaigner Beau Baconguis, community leader Noli Abinales, Rotarian Romy Hidalgo, Ang NARS president Dr. Leah Primitiva Samaco-Paquiz and zero waste proponent Sonia Mendoza.

Of the 50 brands of skin whitening creams that the FDA had so far banned for containing excessive levels of mercury, the EcoWaste Coalition managed to buy over a dozen of the various proscribed cosmetics in several test buys conducted this year.

The mercury-laced skin whitening creams are being sold in some Chinese drug stores, beauty product shops, food and herbal supplements booths as well as in some stalls of ambulant vendors, they said.

As a result, the EcoWaste Coalition proposed a list of 15 items, which the group said will help disallow "the continued sale of mercury-laden skin whitening products and the apparent need for a more effective strategy to deal with this preventable health menace."

1. Issue timely health and recall advisories as frequent as may be deemed necessary to forewarn consumers against mercury exposure from certain skin whitening products, including those that have not gone through the required notification process with FDA.

2. Improve the content and delivery of the FDA health and recall advisories such as by providing photographs of the banned products.

3. Publish a paid advertisement in one broadsheet and at least two tabloids of national circulation warning the general public about all the banned products with accompanying photos.

4. Maximize the use of conventional broadcast and print media as well as new media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter and other social networking tools) to ensure that the message reaches through the target sector/s, particularly cosmetics consumers and vendors.

5. Provide a hotline that concerned citizens, including vendors and consumers, can contact to obtain information or clarification about banned cosmetics.

6. Issue a more in-depth Health Alert that will provide information about the hazards of mercury in cosmetics, signs and symptoms of mercury poisoning, medical remedies, disposal of mercury-containing products, etc.

7. Publish a consumer information material (e.g., a simplified, illustrated version of the Health Alert) that will inform users about the health and environmental risks posed by mercury-containing cosmetics for wider distribution and consumption.

8. Encourage victims of mercury exposure from skin whitening products to come forward and tell their stories in appropriate venues.

9. Designate a "No Mercury in Cosmetics" awareness-raising day or any appropriate event to drum up public interest and alertness about this toxic health threat. A potential date is August 4 of every year to mark the issuance of the landmark FDA Advisory 2011-012 banning a total of 50 mercury-laden skin whitening products.

10. Spearhead or support a “Brown is Beautiful” campaign that will encourage Filipinos to be proud of our beautiful, natural complexion.

11. Actively promote and support city or municipal ordinances prohibiting the importation, distribution, sale and use of mercury-containing cosmetics.

12. Forge an agreement with the Bureau of Customs for a more stringent control on the entry of contraband cosmetics such as skin whitening creams.

13. Conduct a series of law enforcement activities, including on-the-spot confiscation of contraband items and preventive closure of business establishments, to rid the market of illegal skin lightening cosmetics, and to demonstrate FDA’s conviction and firmness to enforce the law.

14. Forge Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with the management of shopping malls to secure their cooperation in preventing the distribution and sale of banned cosmetics by shop owners in their premises.

15. Work out an arrangement with FDAs or equivalent regulatory bodies in other jurisdictions suspected as sources of imported mercury-laced cosmetics such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, etc. to prevent export of such tainted goods to the Philippines.

source: interaksyon.com

Ammonia gas leak fifth since February, sparks call for inspection of freezing, storage plants

MANILA, Philippines - A toxics watchdog is urging national and local government agencies to conduct an immediate inspection of ice and cold storage facilities to prevent community and workplace safety problems due to ammonia leaks.

The EcoWaste Coalition made the appeal following the ammonia gas leak on Saturday in Quezon City that forced hundreds of residents to flee when gas seeped out from the Genuino Ice Plant on Colonel Moran St. in Barangay Sta. Cruz.

It was the fifth reported incident since late February 2012.

Ammonia, or “anhydrous ammonia,” is a commonly used refrigerant in large freezing and refrigeration plants such as those involved in ice making, dairy products manufacturing and cold storage.

Exposure to ammonia, a colorless, corrosive and highly irritating gas with suffocating smell, can irritate or burn the nose, throat and respiratory tract, eyes and skin, and cause dizziness and nausea among victims.

“Government regulators, together with community leaders, should swiftly conduct an inspection of freezing and storage facilities to prevent ammonia leaks due to engineering flaws and releases occurring during operations and maintenance as well as accidental releases,” said Manny Calonzo of the EcoWaste Coalition.

“We hope our proposal will also trigger greater recognition of the community right to know about hazardous chemicals being produced, stored, used, treated or disposed of in industrial facilities, some of which may be located next to homes and schools, and lead to the environmentally-sound management of chemicals and wastes,” he added.

The group directed its appeal to key government agencies in charge of chemical accident response and mitigation such as the DILG-Bureau of Fire Protection, DOLE-Occupational Safety and Health Center, DENR-Environmental Management Bureau, DOH-Environmental and Occupational Health Office and local government units.

The proposed inspection of freezing and storage facilities has become imperative following a series of ammonia gas leaks involving ice plants, the EcoWaste Coalition said. It listed the incidents:

• February 20 2011, over 300 families had to be evacuated as a result of an ammonia gas spill at VCNC ice plant in Barangay Bagong Bantay, Quezon City.

• On February 29, 2012, an ammonia gas leak from the ENL ice plant and storage in Barangay Ayala, Zamboanga City sickened over 100 villagers.

• On March 3 and 4 2011, residents of Barangay Tibag, Pulilan, Bulacan were affected by ammonia leak from a Nestle ice cream factory in the area.

• On April 1, 2012, an ammonia gas leak occurred at the Polar Bear Freezing and Storage Corp. in Barangay Manggahan, Pasig City that caused the hospitalization of three persons.

source: interaksyon.com

Inquiry Into Cosmetic Products Urged

MANILA, Philippines — Some Filipinos are unaware that the cosmetic products they buy are tainted with toxic materials that can lead to certain types of cancers, cardiovascular and other neurological diseases.

Thus, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said, it is imperative that Congress conducts an inquiry into the perceived need to introduce and implement toxic reduction strategies in cosmetics and other consumer products to protect the Filipino consumer.

Santiago has filed Senate resolution No. 749 directing the Senate Committee on health and demography to initiate the inquiry in the upper chamber. “It was alleged that major chemicals used in cosmetics – for example, heavy metals such as lead in lipstick, mercury and hydroquinone in skin whiteners, coal tar derivatives in dark hair dyes, hormone disruptors in fragranced products, and formaldehyde and paraben preservatives in numerous personal care items – could cause various diseases, including cancer.” Though cosmetic consumers consists largely of women, Santiago said “men are also exposed to the harmful effects of these chemicals due to their environmental exposure to such (items), particularly those chemicals applied daily to the body.”

Citing a report made by a Dr. Ann Blake of the Green Ribbon Science Panel of California’s Environmental Protection Agency who has at least 18 years experience studying toxic ingredients in cosmetics, Santiago echoes Blake’s call for a “stringent regulation” of ingredients known or suspected of causing cancer and other serius harm to human health. “Blake, in forum sponsored by EcoWaste Coalition and the country's Food and Drug Authority (FDA), reported that the FDA of the United States reported last December the presence of lead in 400 types of lipstick, while the local FDA banned last August 50 brands of skin whitening creams that contained "dangerous amounts of mercury," including products tested by the EcoWaste Coalition using X-ray Fluorescence spectrometer.” The senator added: “Environmental exposure to chemicals in consumer products are linked to major public health issues such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune and neurological diseases, obesity and type II diabetes, pediatric asthma, reproductive and developmental disorders.”

And given the dangers of everyday exposure to toxic chemicals found in beauty products, Santiago said the government should ban outright the use of cosmetics and other consumer products found to be toxic.

“It is the obligation of the State to regulate products being sold in the market; it is also the State's duty to promote greater consumer awareness, with customers buying the products not because of the attractive packaging, but because they have studied the ingredients and educated themselves on their health effects,” Santiago said.

source: mb.com.ph