Press Release: 26th Annual Trouble in Toyland Report Documents Hazards on Store Shelves
Nov. 22 –Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America’s store shelves, according to the Alaska Public Interest Research Group’s 26th annual Trouble in Toyland report.
The report, released this morning, reveals the results of laboratory testing on toys for lead and phthalates, both of which have been proven to have serious adverse health impacts on the development of young children. The survey also found toys that pose either choking or noise hazards.
“Choking on small parts, small balls and balloons is still a leading cause of toy-related injury. Between 1990 and 2009 over 200 children have died,” said Matt Wallace, AKPIRG Executive Director. “While most toys are safe, our researchers still found toys on the shelves that pose choking hazards and other toys that contain hazardous levels of toxic chemicals including lead,” he explained.
For 26 years, the AKPIRG Trouble in Toyland report has offered safety guidelines for purchasing toys for small children and provided examples of toys currently on store shelves that pose potential safety hazards. The group also provides an interactive website with tips for safe toy shopping that consumers can access on their smart phones at www.toysafety.mobi
Key findings from the report include:
Toys with high levels of toxic substances are still on store shelves. Two toys contain levels of phthalates – a chemical that poses development hazards for small children — at 40 and 70 times allowable limits. Several toys violate current allowable lead limits (300ppm). Lead has negative health effects on almost every organ and system in the human body.
Despite a ban on small parts in toys for children under three, we found toys available in stores that still pose choking hazards.
We also found toys that are potentially harmful to children’s ears and exceed the hearing standards recommended by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
In 2008, Congress placed strict limits on concentrations of lead and phthalates in toys and children articles in a law that also gave greater authority and funding to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Wallace noted that the CPSC has a new database of both potential hazards and recalled products at saferproducts.gov.
While federal action has moved the ball forward, there are still potential toxic hazards not addressed in federal law. The Alaska legislature is considering several bills that would significantly reduce toxic chemicals in toys and other consumer goods.
“There is no good reason to have toxic chemicals linked to cancer and learning disabilities in toys with which our children play, especially as we see these rates of disease on the rise in the US.” Representative Scott Kawasaki said. “Alaska must do all it can to protect healthy children and families and prevent our state from becoming a dumping ground for these toxic toys.”
“Parents and toy givers need to remember that while the CPSC is doing a good job, it doesn’t test all toys on the shelves. Consumers should also remember that toys that are not on our list of examples could also pose hazards,” Wallace concluded. “Our new Toy Tips explains the most common toy hazards and our mobile app.”
A pdf version of both documents are available: