Toy Findings – December 2009
 HealthyStuff 2009 tested nearly 700 toys and children’s products. The test data represents the largest publicly available database of toxic chemicals in toys. Currently, the U.S. government and U.S. toy manufacturers are not providing this data to consumers. Our testing is not necessarily representative of all of the toys on the market. In addition, the presence of a chemical in a product does not necessarily mean there is exposure. Our sampling was conducted by the Ecology Center and our non-profit citizen advocacy and environmental health partner organizations.

HealthyStuff found:

Consumer pressure is reducing overall levels of lead in products:
In the last three years (2007-2009), HealthyStuff.org has tested over 4,000 toys. Our analysis of products with lead exceeding today’s current regulatory standards (300 ppm) shows a 2/3 (67%) reduction since 2007 in the number of toys exceeding the current CPSC limits for lead in substrates in toys for children under 12. This reduction also corresponds with a 78% reduction in the number of lead-related toy recalls issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

However, lead in products is still widespread:

Lead is still found in a significant percentage of children’s toys: Lead was detected in 18% (119) of the 669 products we tested. The current federal toy recall standard used for lead material in substrates is 300 ppm. This standard applies only to children’s toys – not to any other consumer products. Three percent (17) of products tested had levels above the 300 ppm. In 2007, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended a level of 40 parts per million (ppm) of lead as the maximum that should be allowed in children’s products. Lead was detected at greater than 40 ppm in 7% (44) of the 669 products tested.

High levels of lead were found in a number of products:

Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit, Dora the Explorer Activity Tote, Kids Poncho from WalMart, MSY Shoes by Faded Glory, Reversible Croco Belt by Cherokee and The Kids Source Magenta/Orange Open-toed shoes. Examples of products with the some of the highest level of lead detected can be viewed at High Lead Toys and Children’s products.
It’s not just lead:

Other dangerous chemicals are still found in toys. One-third (32%) of toys tested in 2009 contain one or more of the hazardous chemicals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and bromine) tested for by HealthyStuff.org. Of those toys tested for other chemicals in 2009, we found cadmium at levels greater than 100 ppm in 3.3% of products or 22 of 669 total products tested for cadmium . Arsenic was detected at levels greater than 100 ppm in 1.3% of products or 9 of 669 total products tested for arsenic.

*Note: Chemicals of Concern tested for include Lead, Arsenic, Mercury, Cadmium, and Bromine
Many plastic toys continue to be made of PVC:

Many children’s products are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. HealthyToys.org identified products made of PVC by measuring their chlorine content. 42% of the 2009 toys tested contained PVC. This percentage has remain constant for the three years (2007-2009) Healthystuff has been testing toys.

PVC is the worst plastic from an environmental health perspective because it creates major hazards in its manufacture, product life and disposal and can contain additives that may be dangerous to human health. PVC plastic without additives is a very brittle. In order to make it flexible and to give it other properties, additional chemicals must be added. Phthalates are very commonly added to PVC to make it soft and flexible; however, they can leach out of the plastic. Phthalates have been implicated in some health problems in laboratory tests. Lead, cadmium and other heavy metals are also commonly added to PVC products.

NOTE: New federal regulations limit the use of phthalates in children’s products, so children’s products are likely to contain fewer prohibited phthalates.

Safe Toys are Possible!

Some manufacturers are already doing it: two-thirds (68%) of the products tested in 2009 did not contain any lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury or PVC, including many made in China. These results show that manufacturers can make toys free of unnecessary toxic chemicals.

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