HealthyToys.org

The Ecology Center has been testing a wide number of children’s toys to determine the safest options for your children this holiday season. While many of the toys tested did contain toxins, almost 28% of the products tested did not contain any lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury or PVC, including many made in China.

Safe Toys (Click on Image to Order!):

Examples of healthier toys as shown above include: First Keys by First Years (made in China); Caterpillar Grasping Toy, Melissa and Doug (made in Vietnam); and Rock-a-Stack by Fisher-Price (made in China).

Following are highlights of the HealthyToys.org findings (summary from Healthy Child, Healthy World):

• Lead – When children are exposed to lead the developmental and nervous system consequences are irreversible. Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended a level of 40 parts per million (ppm) of lead as the maximum that should be allowed in children’s products. Nevertheless, there are no federal regulations for lead in vinyl or plastic toys or children’s jewelry. The only existing standard is for lead in paint. HealthyToys.org found lead in 35% of all the products tested. Seventeen percent (17%) of the products had levels above the 600 ppm federal recall standard used for lead paint! The testing detected more than 6,700 ppm in Dollar Store animal figurines; 3,056 ppm in a Hannah Montana Pop Star Card Pack; and 1,700 ppm lead in a pair of Circo baby shoes.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC / Vinyl) – HealthyToys.org determined products were made with PVC plastic by measuring their chlorine content. PVC is a problematic plastic from an environmental health perspective because it creates major hazards throughout its life cycle and contains additives that can be dangerous to human health. Phthalates are chemicals that are very commonly added to PVC to make it soft and flexible, however, they can leach out of the plastic. Exposure to phthalates is linked to birth defects of the genitals and altered levels of reproductive hormones in baby boys. There are currently no federal regulations limiting phthalates in children’s products. California recently passed a ban of several phthalates in children’s products, and Europe has restricted the use of phthalates in children’s toys and child care items. 47% percent of toys (excluding jewelry) tested by HealthyToys.org were PVC.
• Cadmium – Cadmium is a heavy metal that is used in coatings and pigments in plastic and paint. It is a known human carcinogen and exposure can cause adverse effects on the kidneys, lungs, liver, and testes. Currently there are no mandatory restrictions on cadmium in children’s products in the U.S. HealthyToys.org found cadmium at levels greater than 100 ppm in 2.9% of products — 22 of the 764 products tested for cadmium– including painted toys, PVC toys, backpacks, lunch boxes and bibs.

Click here to view a list of the Worst Toys