BAN Toxics has warned the public about potential dangers posed by certain Christmas lights being sold as the holiday season approaches.
During a recent market check, the group purchased six sets of multicolored Christmas lights priced at ₱100 each.
None of the items had the required Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker to certify that the products are safe.
The group also detected toxic lead concentrations as high as 100,000 parts per million in the bulbs.
According to the World Health Organization, exposure to lead poses serious health risks, especially for children.
It can cause brain damage, developmental delays, organ damage, and lower IQ, particularly among young children.
Because of this, BAN Toxics urged the Department of Trade and Industry to conduct more inspections, enforce product safety standards, and protect Filipino consumers.
The group emphasized that without proper certification, hazardous chemicals in these products remain a threat to the public.
