MANILA, Philippines — Instead of bringing you good fortune, New Year charms on sale on Manila’s sidewalks could do just the opposite.
An environmentalist group warned believers in good luck charms to be careful about buying these items as it found that many of the charms sold on Villabos Street and Plaza Miranda in Manila’s Quiapo district contained high levels of toxic material.
The EcoWaste Coalition said all 20 charms analyzed were positive for traces of antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead, which are all known hazardous substances.
The coalition said these substances were linked to serious health problems like reproductive abnormalities, birth disorders, developmental delays, neurological ailments, cardiovascular diseases, hormonal disruptions, behavioural problems and cancers.
“Lucky charms that are marketed to bring in lasting prosperity, good health and longevity should not contain injurious substances that can make people miserable and sick,” said EcoWaste Coalition Project Protect coordinator Thony Dizon.
Dizon said that if these charms contained harmful metals, manufacturers, importers and distributors should inform consumers of the risks.
Lucky bracelets, figurines and horse-inspired items, in anticipation of the year of the green wooden horse, were among the samples with high levels of toxic substances, the group said.
EcoWaste also advised the public that instead of buying these toxic charms, luck seekers should just go for nontoxic items to attract positive energy, fortune and happiness.
“Displaying lucky plants, preparing 12 round fruits, wearing red and polka-dots, serving ‘tikoy,’ ‘biko” and other sticky delicacies, eating long noodles and healthy meals, cleaning the house prior to New Year, saying fervent prayers with matching hard work, and boosting positive karma by doing good deeds might just do the trick,” Dizon said.
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