Toxics watchdog hits 'unrelenting' sale of cancer-causing balloons in Manila

Toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition on Tuesday, Oct. 5, expressed alarm over the "unrelenting sale" of plastic balloon blowing kits in Manila despite being flagged to have been containing a cancer-causing chemical.

The group called on authorities to act on its concern after finding out during a test buy conducted in Divisoria that several plastic balloon blowing kits are still being sold although they contain benzene—a chemical of public health concern tagged by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be associated with a range of adverse health effects and diseases, such as cancer.

“More than two years have passed since the FDA issued advisory and we still find these benzene-containing plastic balloons in the market,” Thony Dizon, the group's chemical safety campaigner, said.

He was referring to FDA Advisory 2019-102, which warned the public against buying and using unnotified plastic balloon blowing kits brands, including J.H. Toy Lasting Friend Space Balloons, Magic Balloons and two types of Zestar Plastic Balloons.

"Despite the threat of regulatory actions and sanctions, toy wholesalers in Divisoria still sell them as if benzene is not a chemical of serious concern," he added.