Philippines ministry to investigate lead levels in wooden toys

The Philippines' Department of Health is to conduct its own assessment of wooden toys that were found to contain high levels of lead, according to local NGO the EcoWaste Coalition. The group says the department told it that it will obtain its own samples of the toys and have them analysed. If a toy is found to contain high lead levels, it will order the manufacturer or distributor to recall the product.

The NGO said six of the 11 imported and locally produced toys that it bought from registered shops and sent to the University of Cincinnati in Ohio for laboratory analysis using atomic absorption spectroscopy were found to contain elevated quantities of lead.