LEAD AGAIN IN OUR TOYS

BEWARE OF TOXINS IN TOYS

The Chinese are at it again. Last fall, the toy corporations promised they would get the lead out of the toys that they were importing from China. The public was outraged that lead, antimony, cadmium, mercury, and other toxins are allowed in their children's toys.. Even Congress threatened to mandate new regulatory controls for this problem.

The public outrage has subsided, and the toy manufacturer’s concern for your child’s health is gone. It’s business as usual, with the bottom corporate line being strictly financial.

TOY TESTING RESULTS

The Ecology Center, a consumer advocacy group, just conducted 50,000 tests on children’s toys and found one third of them had significant levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, and other toxic chemicals. All of the products tested would be illegal under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act that was passed last year and will take effect on February 10, 2009.   

You the consumer are now again faced with toxic toys, that contain many chemicals that are hard to pinpoint.   Only a few contain a single toxin, as lead, mercury antimony, or cadmium. Over one third of the toys tested were found to be unsafe, having significant levels of toxic chemicals.

We get 80% of our toys from the Chinese market. Yet we are seeing toys coming from all around the world with elevated levels of these chemicals.

LEAD PROBLEM

Eighty percent  of all the toys tested had lead levels higher than the recall standards of the federal government. The standard was 600 ppm, but a suggested safety level of 40 ppm has been advised by the Academy of pediatrics.

Costume jewelry, including gems and baubles, have very high levels of lead.  Children's jewelry is five times more likely to contain higher lead levels than most other toys.  High school Musical jewelry is a big offender.  Children's jewelry often contains small pieces that can be ingested in a child's stomach, delivering a toxic lead load. This is especially seen in toys with buttons, protruding eyes, and other small removable parts.

THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT  2008

This act makes it illegal to sell children's products that have more than 300 ppm of lead.  Lead ingestion can cause neurological damage, developmental delays. learning disabilities, behavioral problems, coma and even death. Lead affects every organ system in the body and is not recognized because its symptoms are not obvious.

PVC

Many plastic toys contain polyvinyl chloride, PVC.   Being very brittle, this plastic is augmented with phthalates.   The law also bans certain phthalates, common in soft plastics and cosmetics. Phthalates have been linked to hormonal disturbances as reproductive defects, early onset of puberty, and low sperm count.

FLAME RETARDANTS

Anything with flame retardants is usually toxic and unnecessary.  Almost 3% of the toys tested showed a high level of this compound. It is found in most electronic components that use circuit boards, and is present in TVs, stereos, and other electronic games.

ANTIMONY 

Antimony  is used as a fire retardant in textiles and plastics.  Chronic exposure can cause heart and lung problems, and even small amounts can cause headaches and dizziness.

 High levels of this toxin were found in caterpillars, and Zhu Zhu Pet's'   "Mr. Squiggles" model. Federal law requires that there be less than 60 ppm of antimony.   These toys showed levels between 93 and 106 ppm.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TOXIN FREE TOY

You must ask yourself if you've chosen a toy which is non-toxic and made of organic materials.  Avoid toys that have small parts easily swallowed.  Make sure the toy is age appropriate. Check the packaging that it is not dangerous. Check if the toy meets US safety standards or better yet European standards.  Does the toy have any sharp edges?  Will the child be educated with this toy as well as entertained? If the toy is for a baby, are there any strings longer than 6 inches that could strangle him?  Best choices are to choose fabric toys, plush cloth toys, and unpainted wood toys.  Avoid children's jewelry at all costs.

Commentary

Many Consumer Reports state that 35% of the toys contain lead.  Our federal government is maintaining a liaise faire approach to this problem.  Check manufacturer’s websites for information about the toys and whether or not they have potentially unsafe lead amounts or other toxins.

Visit www.drneedles.com for more medical discussion of perplexing and current controversial medical subjects.

Sources THE ECOLOGY CENTER

Good Guide website

                healthystuff.org