Rain gear such as boots, coats and umbrellas are meant to protect your kids during the rainy days, but did you know that some of these items may harm your children’s health?

In a 2013 study conducted by the environmental watchdog, EcoWaste Coalition, 23 out of 33 rainwear products from Divisoria tested positive from the toxic chemicals, lead and cadmium.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lead is a heavy metal with a low melting point, and is easily molded and shaped. It is usually used as an element in pipes, storage batteries, pigments, paints
and vinyl products. However, it causes loss of cognition, shortening of attention span, alteration of
behavior, dyslexia, attention deficit disorder, hypertension, renal impairment, immune-toxicity and
toxicity to the reproductive organs. Oftentimes, these effects are permanent.

Meanwhile, cadmium is a human carcinogen and has toxic effects on the kidney, the skeletal and the respiratory systems.

Among the items analyzed by Ecowaste were 25 raincoats, five (5) umbrellas and three (3) pairs of rainboots that the group bought for P50 – P250 each from 10 discount shops situated at the following:
11/88 Shopping Mall, 168 Shopping Mall, 999 Shopping Mall and the Tutuban Prime Block Mall.

The group detected excessive levels of lead: up to 15,500 parts per million (ppm) of lead and up to 717 ppm of cadmium in 70% of the samples.

According to Aileen Lucero, Acting National Coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition, these chemicals are
released into the environment and could affect kids through ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption.

“Their hand-to- mouth behavior and their habit of sitting on the ground or the floor can result to greater childhood exposure to various toxins.”

To prevent toxic exposure, the EcoWaste Coalition advised consumers to read product labels carefully
and avoid PVC materials. These materials are known for having strong chemical odors as they contain numerous toxic additives like cadmium and lead used as pigments or stabilizers.

The group also advised parents to regularly check the condition of the products used by their kids for
any signs of wear and tear, and to frequently remind kids to wash their hands thoroughly, especially
before snacks or meals.

REFERENCES:

http://ecowastecoalition.blogspot.com/2013/06/ecowaste-coalition- rain-gear- for-kids.html

http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public_health/cadmium/en/

http://www.who.int/ceh/publications/leadguidance.pdf

Now that the rainy season has arrived, expect that #NoLigo, will start to flood the social media as well—whether in jest or in all seriousness.

#NoLigo:
When the rains come bringing with it the cold weather, one is tempted to just burrow into the bed covers, forgetting all responsibilities, even the ones involving personal hygiene.

But is it really okay to skip showers during this season, since we don’t perspire and it’s extremely cold?

According to Dr. Karen Elysse J. Beltran of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, even if we don’t perspire, bacteria thrive on our skin. If that isn’t enough reason to still take showers on rainy days, Beltran also reminds us that during the rainy season, we are prone to respiratory diseases such as cough and colds, as well as diarrhea. Mosquitoes are also rampant during this season, possibly carrying diseases. That’s why poor personal hygiene may cost you your health.

Aside from taking a bath everyday, here are more tips to help you stay healthy this rainy season:

Eat healthy.
It is not advisable to eat street foods. Water and air-borne diseases are usually caused by food prepared in open-air food carts. It’s better if you cook food, especially fruits and vegetables, at home with the right preparation.

Wash your hands.
Your hands are a hotspot for germs and bacteria. Washing your hands properly before handling food—whether cooking or eating—ensures that you don’t ingest the nasty stuff that can cause diseases.

Always have a handkerchief with you.
Cover your mouth and nose with a clean hanky to protect you from catching or spreading diseases in crowded places.

Avoid sharing personal things.
Sharing your personal things like towels, soap, hairbrushes and clothes with other people also means sharing bacteria and germs.

No matter the season, we should remain vigilant about personal hygiene. Health threats come indiscriminately, and it is our responsibility to make sure that we’re always equipped to fight them.

– By Camille O. Javines, PanahonTV intern

If you’re a pluviophile or a person who loves the rain, you probably jumped for joy when PAGASA officially announced the onset of the rainy season last May 24. It’s also enough reason for ceraunophiles (people who are fond of thunderstorms) to celebrate!

But for those not too fond of rains, they often complain how rains could ruin their well-thought-of plans, especially for the weekend. The question remains: does it actually rain more on weekends?

The verdict
According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Mr. Gener Quitlong, the weather doesn’t depend on any specific day, but on the prevailing weather systems, such as the easterlies or a low pressure area.

Rains can also be influenced by an area’s state of urbanization. The more urbanized a place is, the more manmade pollutants it has, which may influence the weather.
“Cities impact rainfall and can create their own rain and storms,” Dr. Marshall Shepherd, an Associate Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and Geography at the University of Georgia in the U.S. explained.

But there may be some truth to the observation that it tends to rain more on weekends. Dr. Randall Cerveny of the Arizona State University, together with Geography Professor Robert Balling, examined rainfall in the Atlantic Ocean between 1979 and 1995 by analyzing global satellite data. Though the ocean tides were not affected by the day of the week, they found that the US was soaked during weekends. “Records from monitoring stations showed that levels of two urban pollutants, ozone and carbon monoxide, rose as the weekend approached,” Cerveny stated. On weekdays, human activities, such as daily commute and the use of heavy-duty office appliances are its peak, making the cities cesspools of pollution. This build up of pollutants may have taken effect by the time the weekend rolls around, giving rise to the possibility of rain.

But regardless if it’s the weekend or not, you know what to do this rainy season: bring umbrellas and raincoats, and most important of all, think of alternative and creative ways to enjoy your weekends in case it rains!

– By Angelyssa Lopez, PanahonTV intern