Trouble In Toyland: Annual Report Targets Dangerous, Toxic Toys
DETROIT (WWJ) - Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America's store shelves, according to the Public Interest Research Group Education Fund's 30th annual Trouble in Toyland report. The survey of potentially hazardous toys found that, despite recent progress, consumers must still be wary when shopping this holiday season.
The report reveals the results of laboratory testing on toys for toxic chemicals, including chromium and phthalates, both of which can have serious, adverse health impacts on a child's development. The survey also found examples of toys that pose a choking hazard, extremely loud toys that can threaten children's hearing, and powerful toy magnets that can cause serious injury if swallowed.
"We should be able to trust that toys are safe. However, that's not always the case. Toy buyers need to watch out for common hazards," says Beaumont Children's Hospital trauma prevention coordinator Donna Bucciarelli, RN.
For 30 years, the 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.
Key findings from the report include:
• Toxicity – Toys with high levels of toxic substances are still on store shelves. PIRG had chemical testing done at a lab which is accredited by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
PIRG found the Fun Bubbles jump rope from Dollar Tree which had 10 times the legal limit of the banned phthalate DEHP tested at 10,000 ppm, and also had 190,000 ppm of the toxic phthalate DIBP which has not yet been banned. However, the CPSC has proposed a rule which has not been finalized that would add DIBP to the list of banned phthalates.
In preliminary tests, PIRG also found high levels of the heavy metal chromium in three toys. The high content of chromium in the products PIRG found doesn't necessarily mean that they violate the law. PIRG believes it is a cause for concern, and calls on the CPSC to do further testing.
Positively, while the CPSC has recalled some toys for lead violations this year, PIRG's tests did not find any. PIRG believes this is a sign of progress, but this does not mean that lead cannot be found in other toys.
• Choking Hazards – Despite a ban on small parts in toys for children under the age of three, PIRG found toys available in stores that still pose choking hazards. PIRG found a fairy wand from Dollar Tree that has small parts that easily break off, but was not labeled as a choking hazard.
• Inadequate Warning Labels – PIRG found inadequate warning labels in the Disney Pixar Cars Riplash Racers; Disney Planes from Marshalls; G2 Air Mini Football; a Disney Finding Nemo Dory figurine from Five Below; and a Nickelodeon Mermaid Dora the Explorer from Target. These products might have labels suitable for foreign countries, but they were not sufficient to meet U.S. standards.
• Small parts – Small balls pose a hazard for young children who are inclined to put objects in or near their mouths. PIRG found Magic Towels packaged as a small baseball and a small football at Dollar Tree which did not have the appropriate small ball warning label.
• Balloon dangers – Balloons pose the most serious choking hazard to children in the U.S. All of the balloon packages PIRG found did include the required warning label reading that children under eight can choke on balloons and balloon parts. However, PIRG found three balloon sets from Party City which included a second, confusing label indicating that the products are for children ages three and older: the Balloon Animal Kit; Mega Value Pack 16 Latex Punch Balloons; and Mega Value Pack 12 Water Bomb Packs.
• Loudness issues – PIRG also found toys that are potentially harmful to children's hearing. PIRG found the Vtech Go! Go! Smart Wheels, Vtech Go! Go! Smart Animals, Vtech Spin & Learn Color Flashlight, Fisher Price Click n Learn Remote and Leap Frog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set from Target that, while they don't violate federal standards, were found to be extremely loud at the ear and at a distance.
• Magnets – PIRG continues to find small, powerful magnets that pose a dangerous threat to children if swallowed. PIRG found Sizzlers noise magnets from Family Dollar, and Singing magnets from Dollar Tree that are "near-small-parts" which, while they don't violate federal standards, are small enough to be swallowed and can cause severe internal damage.
In the past seven years, stronger rules have helped get some of the most dangerous toys and children's products off the market. Rules put in place by the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act tightened lead limits and phased out dangerous phthalates. Earlier this year, the CPSC implemented a ban on small, powerful toy magnets which is also an important step forward. However, not all toys comply with the law, and holes in the toy safety net remain.
"We must protect children from unsafe toys – no child should ever get injured, sick, or die from playing with a dangerous toy," says Bucciarelli.
PIRG tested for toxic chemicals at a CPSC-accredited lab. Other tests are completed under expert direction. The validity of PIRG's research methodology is amply demonstrated by the fact that the CPSC and toy manufacturers have taken at least 150 actions—recalls, stop sales, etc.—over the years in response to this annual toy safety report.
To download PIRG's full Trouble in Toyland report, visit toysafetytips.org. Parents can find the list of unsafe toys, as well as tips for safe toy shopping this holiday season, at toysafetytips.org.
Parents can take steps to protect children from potential hazards. PIRG recommends:
• Shopping with U.S. PIRG Education Fund's Toy Safety Tips, available at toysafetytips.org.
• Examining toys carefully for hazards before purchase – and don't trust that they are safe just because they are on a store shelf.
• Reporting unsafe toys or toy-related injuries to the CPSC at www.saferproducts.gov.
• Subscribing to government announcements of recalled products at www.recalls.gov.
• Remembering toys on PIRG's list are presented as examples only. Other hazards may exist.
For toys you already own, PIRG advises:
• Removing small batteries if there is any question over their security or accessibility and keep them out of reach of children.
• Removing batteries from or taping over speakers of toys you already own that are too loud.
• Putting small parts, or toys broken into small parts, out of reach. Ensure toys appropriate for your older children are not left within reach of children who still put things in their mouths.
