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Trouble in Toyland
Last week my colleagues at the New York Public Interest Research Group released its 20 th annual toy safety report, “Trouble in Toyland.” The report examined dangerous toys that are marketed to appeal to young children. While the report documented substantial progress after 20 years, it found hazards still on the market. The report’s researchers found toys on store shelves in New York with hidden dangers, including toys and balloons that pose choking hazards, toys that are known to cause strangulation, excessively loud toys, and toys containing toxic chemicals. Since children are more vulnerable to the effects of exposure to toxic chemicals, products marketed for young children that contain these hidden hazards pose a serious concern. One chemical of concern is phthalates (thay-lates). Phthalates are a class of chemicals used to soften otherwise hard PVC plastic used in a range of consumer items, including toys, teethers, and other children’s products. Scientists have documented the potential health effects of exposure to phthalates including reproductive defects, early onset puberty, and even cancer. Given growing consumer concerns about the health effects of phthalates, many manufacturers claim to have stopped using phthalates in toys and childcare articles. Some manufacturers even have started labeling their products as “phthalate-free,” ostensibly giving parents the information they need to make wise purchasing decisions for their children. Unfortunately, PIRG discovered that a popular soft vinyl book, labeled as “phthalate-free”, actually contained phthalates. For that reason, PIRG decided to put the “phthalate-free” label to a broader test. PIRG commissioned an independent and certified laboratory to test eight children’s toys and childcare articles—all labeled as “phthalate-free”—for the presence of phthalates. Six of these eight products tested positive for phthalates. In addition, the report’s researchers found toys with dangerously small parts that lacked the statutory choke hazard warning. Parents who want to see if a toy or ball poses a choking hazard should use something everyone has at home—an empty toilet paper roll tube—if the part fits into the tube, it can pose a threat. The report also examined other potentially hazardous toys. The water yo-yo toy is one example. There have been growing numbers of reports of incidents in which water yo-yos wrapped tightly around children’s necks or caused other injuries to the eyes, face and head. The water yo-yo stretches up to 5 feet, and the weight of the ball at the end gives the toy powerful momentum. As a result, several countries have banned the toy, including Canada, France, and the United Kingdom and recently the state of Illinois. Loud toys pose another hazard. Loud toys are more than just annoying to parents—prolonged exposure to sounds at 85 decibels or higher can damage a child’s hearing. The standards say that most toys cannot produce a sound louder than 90 decibels when measured from a distance of approximately 10 inches. Consumers should be very wary of providing loud toys to children. The report found that, despite progress made by government and toy manufacturers, there is still trouble in toyland. Some toys are too loud and could damage children’s hearing. Some toys still aren’t properly labeled as choking hazards. And, most of all, many toys on store shelves still contain toxic chemicals, a truly hidden hazard that we need to address immediately. Toys and products for the smallest and most vulnerable consumers should not contain potentially harmful chemicals. NYPIRG’s report included only a sampling of potentially hazardous toys. Parents should always examine toys carefully for potential dangers before making a purchase. Consumers interested in obtaining information on how to shop safely for toys can go to www.toysafety.net. That’s all for now. I’ll be keeping an eye on the Capitol and will talk to you again next week.
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