Test of 1500 toys for heavy metals and other chemicals; some will be illegal in Feb 09

[Muttocracy]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wed. Dec. 3, 2008

One in Three Children's Toys Tested by www.HealthyToys.org Found to have Significant Levels of Toxic Chemicals Including Lead, Flame Retardants, and Arsenic

Some Products on Shelves this Holiday Season Will be Illegal to Sell in February

Environmental Health Groups Hold Toy Testing Events Nationwide and Urge Manufacturers and Gov't to Phase Out Most Harmful Chemicals Immediately

(Ann Arbor, MI -- December 3, 2008) - The Ecology Center, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization, and partners across the country today released the 2nd annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in toys at www.HealthyToys.org. Researchers tested over 1,500 popular children's toys for lead, cadmium, arsenic, PVC and other harmful chemicals in time for this year's holiday shopping season. One in three toys tested were found to contain "medium" or "high" levels of chemicals of concern.

Lead was detected in 20% of the toys tested this year. In fact, lead levels in some of the products were well above the 600 parts-per-million (ppm) federal recall standard used for lead paint, and will exceed the U.S. legal limit in February, according to the new Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations. Levels of lead in many toys were significantly above the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended ceiling of 40 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 in 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 our children.

more at

http://www.healthytoys.org/press.releases.php

and

http://www.just-green.org/

[patrice]

1. Any BRCs? Low-level radioactive waste was DE-regulated in the early 90s and SOLD to China

amongst other places. BRC = Below Regulatory Concern

The grasroots' environmental action group I was in at the time fought this, because, in addition to the fact that our state, Oklahoma, had also deregulated and become an international waste broker, we were also concerned about the metals that would be RE-USED in all kinds of consumer goods.

[Muttocracy]

2. Think they're listing the data and THEIR level of concern, not just regulatory levels. nt

[Muttocracy]

4. and they give the caveat that they're not measuring exposure per se

just the content of the toys. I suppose small kids stick so many things in their mouths though...

The information on HealthyToys.org is meant to provide general information to the public on whether or not certain chemicals were detected in tested children's products. HealthyToys.org did NOT conduct studies to determine if the chemicals of concern will migrate or come out of the product, causing a direct exposure. Therefore, HealthyToys.org can not determine whether the presence of these chemicals in a product results in human exposure, nor can HealthyToys.org estimate the health risk posed by any product. Studies intended to examine whether or not chemicals of concern do come out of products under various conditions can be done. Some manufacturers report having done studies of this kind. Please contact manufacturers directly if you are interested in that information.

The test results shown on the site apply only to the specific toys tested. Earlier or later versions of the same toys may contain different chemical formulations.

[patrice]

5. Thanks for the clarification. nt

[Muttocracy]

3. they also have a list of recommended toys at their site. nt