One in three children’s toys has significant levels of toxic chemicals, according to HealthyToys.org

Just in time for holiday shopping, the Michigan-based Ecology Center and partners across the country released the second annual guide to toxic chemicals in toys at www.HealthyToys.org.  Researchers found that one in three of the 1,500 toys tested contained “medium” or “high” levels of chemicals of concern, including lead, flame retardants, arsenic, PVC and other harmful chemicals.

Lead was detected in 20 percent of toys tested this year.  Levels of lead in some toys will exceed the U.S. legal limit, according to the new Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations that take effect two months from now in February 2009. Many toys had lead levels significantly above the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended ceiling of 40 parts per million (ppm) of lead in children’s products.  Children’s jewelry remains the most contaminated product category, maintaining its spot at the top of HealthyToys.org’s “worst” list.

The CPSC regulations, which go into effect February 2009, would make certain products on the shelf this holiday season illegal to sell two months from now.  Experts insist that these new regulations, while a good first step, do not go nearly far enough to protect children.

“There is simply no place for toxic chemicals in children’s toys,” said Ecology Center’s Jeff Gearhart, who led the research. “Our hope is that by empowering consumers with this information, manufacturers and lawmakers will feel the pressure to start phasing out the most harmful substances immediately, and to change the nation’s laws to protect children from highly toxic chemicals.”

For more details about the report, visit www.healthytoys.org.  Details about nationwide toy testing events can be found at SaferStates.org or at www.healthytoys.org.

The good news is that 62 percent (954) of the products tested contain LOW levels of chemicals of concern, and 21 percent (324) of all products contain NO chemicals of concern.  These products look and feel no different than other children’s products on the shelf.  These findings show that manufacturers can and should make toys free of unnecessary toxic chemicals.

Highlights from the HealthyToys.org 2008 findings include:

• Lead is Still in Toys – HealthyToys.org found lead in 20 percent of all the products tested this year.  When children are exposed to lead, the developmental and nervous system consequences can be irreversible. 
• It’s Not Just Lead – HealthyToys.org found that 2.9 percent or 45 products had bromine at concentrations of 1,000 ppm or higher.  This indicates the likely, unnecessary use of brominated flame retardants – chemicals that may pose hazards to children’s health. Arsenic was detected at levels greater than 100 ppm in 22 or 1.4 percent of products; 289 (18.9 percent) of products contained detectable levels of arsenic.  Mercury was found above 100 ppm in 14 (1 percent) of products; 62 (4.2 percent) of products contained detectable levels of mercury. 
• It’s Not Just China – HealthyToys.org has not found a consistent correlation between the country of
manufacture and the presence of toxic chemicals in toys.
• Jewelry – Jewelry remains the most contaminated product category tested.  Children's jewelry was five times more likely to contain lead above 600 ppm than other products tested by HealthyToys.org.