Toys lined up on the table – from the characters Buzz Light year doll puppy to a luxurious and daughter necklace, all can kill or harm the children, according to a report Trouble in Toyland 2009 from the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG).
The findings of the annual reports issued during a press conference on Wednesday (2 / 12). Some problematic toys on display at the press conference, which all found on store shelves in New York last two weeks.
Earlier reports have resulted in the withdrawal of 130 toys and other measures to get dangerous toys from store shelves, according to NYPIRG consumer attorney Tracy Shelton.
Shelton said the product became the most attention this year is fluffy stuffed animals are marketed for infants. “Love to Play Puppy” from Fischer Price found to contain mercury and bromine.
“The fact that this doll is very funny and marketed for the baby, and containing such substances, it bothered me,” he said. Although the findings were not as bad as last year, one third of the 699 products tested this year found to contain one or more hazardous chemicals.
Sheryl Gaynor of NYPIRG said besides containing lead, “This year also been identified toy contains, phthalates, cadmium, arsenic, chlorine, mercury, and bromine. Toxic substances should not be there in children’s toys.”
Toys with a very loud voice that can cause hearing loss and toys that cause choking hazards this year were also discussed.
The report took some of the findings from research by HealthyStuff.org.
Toxic Toys
Tin was found in 18 percent of the toys tested – only slightly lower than last year which is 20 percent, despite strict rules. Standards for lead content of toys are 300 ppm. Three percent of toys contain lead was more than 300 ppm.
“Scientists have discovered that there is no safe lead level for children,” Gaynor said, adding that the neurotoxin is known to reduce IQ and cause behavioral problems. “In 2005 a child even died of acute lead poisoning after swallowing a piece of jewelry that contains 99 percent lead.”
Despite a common belief, is not limited to lead paint. Also been found in the lunch box of plastic and similar jewelry. This is obtained in the paint toy itself, in vinyl, plastic, and metal.
PVC is found in 42 percent of the toys. PVC levels did not change from past studies. This is regarded as one of the worst plastic that creates danger for producers and generally has additional substances including lead, cadmium, and heavy metals.
Representatives from Toy Industry Association also attended the press conference and denied the report findings.
“When the holidays, this list came out. They do not need to frighten parents,” said Adrienne Appell, a spokesman for Toy Industry Association, added that “parents can be reassured that the toys on store shelves are safer than ever before.”
Researchers from HealthyStuff.org using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) portable analyzer to identify the composition of the elements of material to examine hazardous chemicals in toys.
Posted on January 22, 2010