Posted
by Erica Nochlin
on Mon Nov 24, 2008
Last updated
Nov 25, 2008
Eighteen deaths. More than 230,000 injuries. About 45 million recalls.
Those are the government statistics of toy-related incidents in the U.S. from 2007, but they're only part of the story.
Some of the hazards associated with toys are pretty simple. Just last year, four children died from choking on a rubber ball, one died suffocating on a stuffed animal, and two died from choking on balloons.
But it's not always easy to tell the safe toys from the hazardous ones.
Parent of two Susan Nagel says, "It's just an overwhelming task for parents, and there's literally not enough information."
Warnings help, and age suggestions can be valid, but the labels don't tell all. At a Columba Wal-Mart, ABC 17 found one toy called Meadow Mystery Play-a-Sound Book with a Cuddly Pooh. It made the 2008 Worst Toy List just released by the national non-profit organization, World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H). The organization points out the blue mask is a choking hazard, and while the box says the product has been safety tested for children 18 months and older, the tag on the toy says recommended for all ages.
"I think up until this point, a larger number of people made the assumption that the proper market testing was done, and toys that make it to the shelves must be safe, and there certainly wouldn't be any issues." W.A.T.C.H Director James Swartz says. "Well we know that not to be true."
Beyond the Wal-Mart toy, we wanted to see how many more of the listed "Worst Toys" we could find on local store shelves. We found the Ninja Assault Gear, Michelangelo and the Spider-Man Adjustable Toy Skates at the Columbia Target.
We also found an Animal Alley Pet Purse at the Columbia Toys-R-Us. It's the top "Worst Toy" on the list because it's recommended for all ages and has long, easily removable hair that children could choke on. However, unlike the other stores, the employees refused to sell it to me, saying it was now under investigation for recall.
We could buy others toys experts say can be dangerous, like a Magnetix set. Magnetic marbles can not only get stuck in a child's throat, but can also cause major internal problems or even death if swallowed. The MU Child Development Lab Director says she's even eliminated all magnetic toys.
"The children really enjoy playing with magnetic toys, and that's something that we've come across more recently that can be very dangerous," Director Jessie Darko says.
We also bought an Anne Geddes doll. The label says it's for kids 18 months and older, an age when children still put things in their mouths, but nowhere on the box is any warning about the beads inside. With some chewing and common wear and tear, the seams could come apart, leaking a choking hazard without warning.
Darko says the same thing goes for other similar items. "Something that some people forget about is the stuffings of stuffed animals, or sometimes those bean bag chairs, could have bits of Styrofoam in them, and if the seams come loose, they could come out and children can choke on that."
Experts say to also be careful with toy packaging because the wrappers, ribbons, etc can be just as hazardous.
Phthalates in Toys
The dangers of toys can go beyond the physical characteristics we're all familiar with.
"This is the asbestos of the 21st century," says MU Scientist Frederick vom Saal. He was one of the first to study the effects of small amounts of certain chemicals, and now he's talking about phthalates. "That's been shown in animals and in people that these chemicals pose a really serious threat to the lifetime health of people."
Phthalates are used in toys and bottles, among other things, to make plastics more flexible. Studies have linked it to changes in reproductive hormones, causing early puberty, genital defects, and impaired sperm quality. Dr. vom Saal says it's even linked to cancer. He says phthalates can sometimes be inhaled, go through skin or eaten.
"When a baby sucks on [certain toys], it's like a phthalate lollypop," Dr. vom Saal says. He says "virtually everything" today contains phthalates, especially products like baby dolls and baby teething products.
Toys in the Holiday Season
In August, Congress passed a law banning certain phthalates in children's toys, but it doesn't take effect until February 2009. All toys made before then can be sold.
We asked Dr. vom Saal about whether or not toy manufacturers and retailers would really try to get rid of all the soon-to-be-banned toys this holiday season.
He says, "Here you have manufacturers saying we consider this overly burdensome, that not only are we, we are allowed to sell all these toxic chemicals throughout the Christmas season, we want to be able to completely sell all our back stock."
I found numerous reports bringing up that same issue. This month Consumer Reports mentions "toys made from the soon-to-be-banned plastic are flooding the toy market as retailers rush to rid their shelves of the products." The same article urges Congress to broaden the ban.
But Patty Davis with the Consumer Product Safety Commission says, "We think that manufacturers and retailers are going to do the right thing [...] They are already working towards that goal right now."
The Toy Industry Association (TIA) says on its website it "applauds this comprehensive legislation." However, the association has also been backing phthalates for years. A statement from just last year on its website says, "they are designed to be safe and the softeners used in vinyl are well-tested."
If these chemicals concern you, there are some products in the store that will say 'PVC Free' on the label. You could also call up the manufacturer and ask if the toy is made with Polyvinyl Chloride, which will contain phthalates. Also, any toys made after Feb. 10, 2009 should not contain certain phthalates.
Additional Resources
HealthyToys.org – this organization's list of the most toxic toys will be coming out Dec. 3, 2008
WATCH – World Against Toys Causing Harm
Kids in Danger
