Copyright 2008 Empire State Consumer Project

 

 

In the fall of 2007 a series of reports on toys that were contaminated with lead, asbestos, cadmium, arsenic, and other dangerous materials alerted the public to a children’s health hazard. While hazardous toys are not a new problem, the problem has grown substantially due to lack of adequate federal action and a dramatic increase in toy imports. 

 

It is currently very difficult to identify safe and unsafe toys.  Many organizations are working to identifying hazardous toys and share that information with the public.  There are also efforts underway to change consumer product policies and improve safety.  This website provides links to information on toy safety and to groups and resources that can be used to take action on  product safety.

 

The safety of products used by children or around them requires consideration of many factors:

 

 age-appropriate needs

 hazardous ingredients

 physical dangers from poor design

 

This site provides links to information organized into these three categories.  There is also information on recalls, pet toy safety, recalls, and taking action.

 

Websites that offer information on children’s product safety issues change over time. We list links with the caveat that the reader must use their own good judgment in evaluating the validity of all website information.

 

 

                               

 

  

Age-Appropriate Toys

 

 

Toys that are safe for older children may pose serious hazards for young children. Package warnings may be of some help, but are not always included. Many organizations offer guidelines on choosing safe toys for different ages.

 

American Academy of Pediatrics

www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb_for_printer.cfm?article_ID=ZZZ9VGSOQ7C&sub_cat=104   

 

Retail and federal collaboration website:  www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/grand/toy/toysafe.html

 

Other guidelines of this type are available at:  kidshealth.org/parent/growth/learning/safe_toys.html  

(also in Spanish – see link)

  Jacks are an example of toys that are safe for older, but not younger children.  They provide an inexpensive game that teaches hand-eye coordination and collaborative play, but pose a serious choking hazard for young children. 

 

 Many toys require safety equipment, such as helmets. When buying toys and sports equipment include appropriate safety equipment that fits the child.  Some states require helmets for certain activities, and teams often require specialized protective gear.

 

         

 

Magnet games, science kits, and school magnet projects provide older children excellent experimental tools, but can be deadly for young children. When eaten, they can migrate towards each other, causing internal damage and even death.  Magnetic earrings are also now found in many stores. Magnets must be kept out of reach of all children who still put toys in their mouths (see  magnetscankill.spaces.live.com )

 

 

     

 

 

Hazardous Ingredients

Toy ingredients should not cause health problems in children, but there is not effective screening to prevent harmful ingredients.  Lead, arsenic, cadmium and other chemicals that can cause brain damage and cancer have been found in a large number of toys.  Asbestos, a product banned in most countries because it can cause death, has recently been found in some toys.

 

Children have died from toys that contain toxic ingredients.  Often the greatest risk is to children who are likely to put toys in their mouths, but toxic ingredients should not be in toys under any condition. 

 In 2007 the problem of discarded hazardous materials shipped to China and Africa was recognized as one potential source of toxic materials in imported toys.  The source of the toxic materials in toys, whether from hazardous waste, mine tailings, or other sources, is not currently addressed by any federal agency.  This makes choosing safe toys or even screening toys for safety extremely difficult, since we don’t know what  hazardous ingredients will show up next. 

 

The “Taking Action” section at the end of this webpage provides links to policy makers and others you can reach if you want to voice your concerns about this.  Posters on this topic can be found at: www.everyvoicecounts.net

 

 

Some toxic ingredients have been recognized as such for a very long time, and there is an extensive amount of medical evidence regarding their harm.  Most toxic metals fall into this category (e.g., lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, etc.). 

 

              New types of studies have made it possible to recognize chemicals that can cause damage during development, hormonal disruption, hereditary damage, immunosupression, and other types of harm.  In addition, the tens of thousands of chemicals in use are increasingly being tested to determine what effects they may have on human health. 

 

The fact that information is relatively new doesn’t diminish its importance, but it often means there is controversy about the assertions being made.  It is up to individuals to decide whether they wish to err on the side of safety, or not. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unsafe products that contain dangerous levels of hazardous ingredients.  But since they do not, the public is left to find what they can to protect their families and communities - on the web, in the news, and from various organizations.  We provide links below to publications and organizations offering information on hazardous ingredients. 

LINKS ON HAZARDOUS  INGREDIENTS

We have included information on websites provide information on hazardous ingredients in toys and on a number of documents that describe approaches to toy safety take in various countries.  This includes standards for some of the hazardous ingredients regularly found in US toys. 

 

These links provide access both to the results of testing and in most cases to information regarding the hazards themselves, what they can cause, and other relevant information.

Newly Identified Contaminants: 

 

Cadmium

Cadmium  screening by RAMP began in October 2007 after they learned of  health damage to young children from low levels of cadmium.

~  Scientific information on cadmium and related topics is available at the SUNY Albany Institute of Environmental Health:  www.albany.edu/ihe/Cadmium.htm

~  Links to government documents and other sources, and limits on amounts allowable in toys in other countries are on this page .

~  After finding high levels of cadmium, RAMP tested for toxic metals and found arsenic, chromium, lead, manganese, and toxic metals.  See results at  www.nyenvirolaw.org/consumerproducts.htm

~  An editorial on toys hazads and related import issues at: www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-w-gerard/protecting-our-kids-from-_b_72682.html

 

 

Asbestos      Tremolite asbestos was found in a popular toy and in other consumer products by ADAO in late 2007.  Results and asbestos hazards information can be found at:

www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/eLibrary/PressReleases/11.28.07.pressrelease.pdf

 

 

Well-recognized Toxic Toy Ingredients

 

Many groups have evaluated a number of toxic ingredients in toys, with a primary focus on lead in many cases. 

US Public Interest Research Group - numerous useful documents at these three sites:  www.uspirg.org/issues/toy-safety  

www.uspirg.org/uploads/8p/Q7/8pQ7y-4le4DGBMMhU2w0GA/US-PIRG-Toy-Report-11-07.pdf   www.uspirg.org/issues/product-safety

 

Investigation and advocacy on children’s health, including toys.  Tests for toxics in products:  www.cehca.org

 

Phthalates, bisphenol-A, lead, cadmium and some other chemicals are covered in the product ranking for toys developed by a coalition in 2007:  www.healthytoys.org

 

Lead is addressed in the USW “Get the Lead Out” campaign:

www.protect-our-kids.org/default.asp 

and in their “toxic trade” information at:  www.stoptoxicimports.org 

More information from USW is available at: www.usw.org/uswa/program/content/overview_sub.php?modules2_ID=794&modules_ID=794

 

 

 

 

Hazardous Design

 

Some toys are made without careful consideration of the way children may play with or use the toys. These can include toys with sharp points; magnets or other small parts that young children can eat; strings, bands, ribbons, or other parts that can strangle a child; items that are highly flammable, or other characteristics that pose serious hazards.

 

                               

 

Some toys, such as magnets, may be very educational and suitable for an older child, but pose serious risks of organ damage and perforation if eaten by a small child.

 

Other toys, such as highly flammable petroleum filled “squishy balls” are dangerous for all ages because they can ignite if they inadvertently are thrown near a heat source.  In some cases there are ornaments not designed for children’s safety that are none-the-less seen as toys by children and adults alike, as with the puppet ornament above.

 

Websites on Hazardous Design 

The following websites provide information on toys that are hazardous as a result of their design features.  This information includes some toys that are not harmful for older children.  These websites may also have information on toxic ingredients from time to time. 

Consumer Union information product safety:          www.consumersunion.org/products.html

 

Toy issues related to protecting eyesight:  www.preventblindness.org

 

Cribs, dangerous children's products and unsafe sleep environments:  www.keepingbabiessafe.org/ 

 

Worldwide–safe kids includes US guidance on toy safety: sk.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Campaigns/ToySafety/campaignToySafety

 

Underwriters Labs safety tips: www.ul.com/seasonal/opdec/toys.html

 

Water YoYo Dangers: www.dangersofwateryoyos.com

 

eCPSC on toy hazards (pg 3+)  www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/cpsr_nws29.pdf

 

Clearinghouse of information on products that pose risks to children: www.kidsindanger.org/prodhazards/index.asp

                       

Check safety of arts & crafts materials                Even simple puffer balls can
                                                                                      be very dangerous

 

Hazards in toys for pets or accessible to pets

 

 

Pets, like young children, are curious and put most things in their mouths

 

Keeping them safe involves protecting them from dangerous toys  - children's or their own - and dangerous products.

 

General articles:

ezinearticles.com/?Toxic-Dog-Toys&id=750713

www.itchmo.com/expertox-finds-lead-other-toxins-in-wal-mart-pet-toys-2877

 

 

National Veterinary Poison Control Center at:

www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc

www.canismajor.com/dog/poison.html

 

Consequences  

 

If you have been working on toy safety for some time, move past this page. For people who think the problems are somehow overstated, it is worth pointing to a few facts.

 

Lead.  A large number of children in the US have elevated lead levels as a result of lead in their homes, toys, water systems and other materials.  The damage to the nervous system and other impacts are described in medical journals.  In the worst cases, children die from very high lead levels, as reported by the CDC in 2006  when a 4 year old died after ingesting a small charm with high lead levels.  (See: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm55d323a1.htm ) 

 

Deaths.  Each year the CPSC issues a list of toy-related deaths.  It is noteworthy that the above incident did not appear on that list because toy jewelry isn't considered a "toy" by the CPSC, even if it is designed for children. (See www.cpsc.gov )

 

Serious Injuries and Illnesses.  In 2006 the CPSC reported an estimated 220,500 toy-related injuries were treated in emergency rooms and almost 40 percent of those were in children under five years of age. (See: www.cpsc.gov )

 

Breadth of the problem. There continue to be hazardous toys that can result in life altering injuries on the shelves of many stores that sell toys and in catalogs from a wide range of vendors.  For example, there were 120 retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers involved in the California AG's office negotiated agreement to phase out lead in 2006 (See: http://www.cehca.org/lead-in-jewelery/  ).

 

Guidelines, regulations & other resources

 

The importance of toy safety has been recognized for many decades, and in most developed countries there are strict regulations to insure children are protected.  The links below access some of the guidelines, discussions, and other documents related to toy safety. 

 

We have also included links to new bills that have been submitted to Congress in 2007 to address this issue.  This information may be of interest to you personally, and you may also want to share it with others in order to encourage policies that protect children. 

 

Some guidelines are also provided in the links to information on specific chemicals such as lead and cadmium above.

Toy standards around the world 

www.toy-icti.org/info/toysafetystandards.html  

 

Nazdar Health and Safety provides information on toy standards, voluntary limits, and related information.  Scroll down this page most of the way to “Toy Specifications”.  Information also provided on other relevant topics: www.nazdar.com/health_safety_faqs.asp

 

American Society for Testing and Materials provides guidance for toy safety and many other product specifications.  For toy article in newsletter see:  www.astm.org/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/SNEWS/MARCH_2004/toy_mar04.html?L+mystore+ihao4431

 

         

 

 

               VOLUNTARY SAFETY STANDARD FOR

TOY COATINGS (e.g., paint)  (ASTM F 963 – 96a)

 

Antimony Arsenic Barium Cadmium Chromium Lead Mercury Selenium

0.0060% 0.0025% 0.1000% 0.0075% 0.0060% 0.0090% 0.0060% 0.0500%

(60ppm) (25ppm) (1000 ppm) (75 ppm) (60 ppm) (90 ppm) (60 ppm) (500 ppm)

EUROPEAN SAFETY STANDARDS FOR TOYS  

Some European toy standards are the same as those above.  However, in 2006 methods were published that list chemical exposure limits for children and an approach for setting toy standards. It is similar to USEPA’s approach to setting drinking water standards for toxic chemicals.  See: ec.europa.eu/enterprise/toys/documents/study_on_bioavailability.pdf

 

European Union standards for cadmium: maximum  0.6 micrograms/day of soluble cadmium extract in a toy.  This stringent requirement indicates the degree of hazard. Many  toys sold in the US could not be sold in Europe due to child-protective policies.  www.tdctrade.com/alert/eu0604c.htm

 

Elemental mercury was found in a maze

 

 

A  note on product recalls

 

Recalls are issued by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission under some conditions, but they test for almost no known hazards.

 

When they are given information on hazards from laboratory or other testing, there is an unacceptably long delay prior to issuance of recalls.  Nonetheless, the CPSC recall link is provided here for reference.  It unquestionably does NOT list all unsafe toys.

 

CPSC recalls: 

 www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

 

The Consumer Union has a list of recalls from a number of different federal agencies, including CPSC, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

www.consumersunion.org/campaigns/notinmycart/recalls.html

 

Recalls from all government agencies, US Department of Transportation, EPA, USDA, CPSC

www.recalls.gov

 

Toys Made In America

 

 

 

While there are many reasons that children’s products are safe or hazardous, there has been more scrutiny of products in the US than in some other countries.  In addition, some of the imported products may contain hazardous waste materials such as cadmium that would not be used in the US in toys under conditions of responsible corporate behavior or product stewardship. 

 

We have provided a link to information on products made in the US.   We welcome information on products made in other countries where the safety of toys and other children’s products are carefully reviewed.

 

Link to a list of companies that make toys in the US. 

www.toysmadeinamerica.com

 

 

Share Information !!

 

 

 

If you have information on unsafe toys, please share it with others.  If you would like to send information or links, please do so electronically if possible. 

 

E-mail the information to the President of RAMP: judybraiman@frontiernet.net.  Please forward a link rather than a file if possible. 

 

If you are sending information via standard Postal Service mail, you can use the following address: Sciencecorps,  41 Fair Oaks Dr., Lexington, Massachusetts, 02421

 

 

Take Action

 

People of all ages care about the safety of children and communities.  School-age children and adults can work to improve product safety by learning about issues, writing, blogging, and talking with others about the issues and ways bring about positive change.

 

Government agencies respond when enough people demand action. We encourage people to work collaboratively with community members to improve the safety of products for children and to contact their local newpapers, representatives, and to retailers who sell unsafe products. 

 

 

                   

 

Making your Voice Heard -

 

For links to the press, Congress, other organizations and resources, see:  www.everyvoicecounts.net  Professional and other nonprofit organizations for health professionals, parents, students, educators, and others are listed on the website.  This website also has posters that you can download, print, modify as needed, use, and distribute.  

 

For links to technical, medical, and scientific information, see links on the homepage for Sciencecorps.

 

 

 

Requiring Protections –

 

Bills in Congress can provide more protection from hazardous products. They can be located by a routine internet search or contacting Congress directly. The “Every Voice Counts” website (link above) provides link outs to all Congressional representatives, and others in government.  Bills to improve product safety were introduced in 2007 and the work on this continues into 2008.

 

 

Working with Labor -

 

For information on the USW Stop Toxic Imports campaign see:  www.usw.org/usw/program/content/4280.php  For their “Get the Lead Out” campaign see: www.protect-our-kids.org/default.asp 

 

 

 

School Tools -

 

A high school science class module on testing toys for lead and cadmium uses standard chemistry laboratory equipment:  adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005jChEd..82..611B   

 

It is clear from this module that testing is neither complicated nor expensive.  The school module, published in 1997, also makes it very clear that the presence of cadmium and lead in toys has been a well-known problem.

 

There is no reason not to require basic tests that can protect our children.  In the absence of adequate federal action, communities can use their resources to protect their youngest members.

 

This website was developed by Sciencecorps in collaboration with RAMP and the Empire State Consumer Project.  We do not accept any funding

for this work.  We have no financial interest in the information

that is provided or in toy safety.  This is purely a labor

of love by moms and dads, aunts and uncles,

college students and others

who want children

to have safe toys

and families

to have peace of mind.

 

 

Copyright 2008 RAMP, Rochester New York

A 501-3C non-profit organization