CAGAYAN de Oro City Councilor Lordan Suan raised alarm that school supplies sold in stores may have harmful chemicals.

Suan said these school supplies may have been here in the city already and used by kids.

Supplies such as crayons, markers, binders have chemical that contain carcinogen which can cause different kinds of cancer, kidney, liver, and immune system damage. Cadmium, meanwhile, can cause neurological damage.

The matter is referred to the city council committee on health.

“We can only imagine what it will do to our kids,” he said.

Earlier this year, the Department of Health has advised the public, especially parents and guardians, to be mindful in buying school supplies for their children because some of them could be tainted with toxic materials.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Thursday that consumers must “carefully” read school supply labels to ensure safety of their children.