Some RP sandals ‘toxic’

A study conducted by an environmental organization in Sweden revealed that some branded flip-flops, sandals, clogs and other plastic shoes manufactured or sold in seven countries, including the Philippines, have high concentrations of phthalates and heavy metals that are highly toxic.

“We have found frightening concentrations of environmental toxins in the shoes that can spread to people and to the environment as the shoes become worn. The investigation also shows that companies have no control and that legislation is too weak,” said Mikael Karlsson, the president of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC).

Based on the report “Chemicals Up-Close,” 17 of the 27 pairs of plastic shoes tested positive for phthalates, which are used as softening agents in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic.

The EcoWaste Coalition reported that phthalates, such as BBP, DBP, DEHP, DiDP, DiNP and DnOP, were endocrine disruptors associated with developmental and reproductive disorders, including incomplete testicular growth and decreased fertility in men. DEHP, in particular, is officially classified as being able to cause impaired fertility and harm to the unborn child.

Besides the EcoWaste Coalition, the Swedish society also partnered with five other groups in India, Indonesia, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda for the chemical research.

Testing the sandals

The EcoWaste bought seven different brands of slippers, sandals, clogs and plastic shoes in some malls and supermarkets in Quezon City (Metro Manila) and sent those to Sweden for the study.

Manny Calonzo, the resident of EcoWaste Coalition, said that of the seven footwear—four of which were tested by the Swedish society—locally manufactured Adorable Dora sandals for children tested to contain 6.9-percent DEHP and 4.7-percent DiDP. Chaya slippers, China-made flip-flops, contained 8.6-percent DEHP.

Calonzo said that slippers for men made by World Balance registered the highest amount of DBP at 9.6 percent among the plastic shoe samples tested from the seven countries.

Beachwalk Sandals tested negative for phthalates but tested positive for varying concentrations of heavy metals.

“There is no justification for the continued use of harmful chemicals such as phthalates in consumer products that could pose grave health and environmental risks. The toxins are spread as the products are used and can leach out when disposed in water bodies, dumps and landfills,” Calonzo said.

“We hope that the results of the investigation would prompt our lawmakers and regulators to craft and enforce legislation that will tighten, if not completely end, the use of toxic chemicals that are dangerous to public health and the environment,” he added.

The Swedish society said that the shoes were also tested for a number of tin organic compounds and for heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, manganese, nickel and zinc.

According to the group, “All the samples from the Philippines and elsewhere tested positive for varying concentrations of one or more of the 10 heavy metals analyzed, many of which are harmful to the endocrine, nervous and reproductive systems, are carcinogenic and allergenic, and highly toxic to aquatic organisms. The highest level of copper content was found in one shoe sample from the Philippines, while another sample [also from the Philippines] tested high for nickel content.” –Ira Karen Apanay, Senior Reporter, Manila Times