Healthy Communities News

 

-- Calls passage of strong reforms “best holiday gift for America’s littlest consumers”–

Boston, MA--Hazardous toys are still sold in stores across the country, according to the 22nd annual toy safety survey released today by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group Education Fund (MASSPIRG).  

“While we have seen progress after more than two decades of advocacy on behalf of America’s littlest consumers, U.S. PIRG’s researchers still found trouble in toyland on store shelves this month,” said MASSPIRG’s Executive Director,  Janet Domenitz. “But recent high profile product recalls have given us a chance to urge Congress to pass strong product safety reforms, and give our kids the best holiday gift of all.”

 

According to the most recent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), toy-related injuries sent almost 73,000 children under the age of five to emergency rooms in 2005. Twenty children died from toy-related injuries that same year.

 

"We should set a high standard when it comes to children’s safety," remarked State Senator Karen Spilka, the Senate Chair of Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.  "There is no acceptable risk when it comes to children.  This report shows us that we must be proactive to ensure children's safety."

For 22 years, the MASSPIRG Trouble in Toyland report has offered safety guidelines for purchasing toys for children and provides examples of toys currently on store shelves that pose potential safety hazards.

U.S. PIRG’s 2007 research focused on several categories of toy dangers: toys that pose choking hazards, toys with powerful magnets, toys that contain lead, and toys that pose strangulation hazards. Most of the recalls this year have been for hazards identified in previous editions of the U.S. PIRG report—small powerful magnets, choking hazards and toys with excessive levels of toxic lead, Domenitz  noted.

Among the findings of the 2007 Trouble In Toyland Report:

 

Lead in Toys and Children’s Jewelry: Children exposed to lead can suffer lowered IQ, delayed mental and physical development and even death.  In 2006, a four year old died of lead poisoning after he swallowed a bracelet charm that contained 99% lead.  U.S. PIRG researchers went to just a few stores and easily found four children’s toys or jewelry containing high, actionable levels of lead. One piece of jewelry found was 65% lead by weight, or over one thousand times current CPSC action levels.

“We’ve known for decades that lead poses serious health risks to children, yet consumers can still find lead-laden children’s jewelry and lead painted toys on store shelves,” continued Domenitz

Magnetic Toys: Toymakers have started using powerful magnets in building toys, magnetic jewelry and children’s play sets.  If a child swallows more than one magnet, they can attract each other in the body and cause a bowel obstruction or life-threatening perforation.  A 22-month old boy died in 2005 and many others have needed life-saving surgery after swallowing magnets. This year, the CPSC recalled popular Mattel toys, including Barbie and Polly Pockets, for poorly designed magnetic toys.. Listed in the report are several examples of sloppily-designed or poorly-labeled magnetic toys found by PIRG researchers this fall.

“Swallowing a magnet is not like swallowing a penny. Powerful magnets can wreak havoc inside the body,” cautioned Domenitz.

Choking Hazards: In 1979, the CPSC banned the sale of toys for children younger than three if they contain small parts.  The 1994 Child Safety Protection Act required an explicit choke hazard warning on toys with small parts for children aged between three and six.

U.S. PIRG found toys for children under three with banned small parts and toys with small parts for children under six without the required choke hazard warning.
 
Other toy hazards found this year included toys containing other toxic chemicals, excessively loud toys, and strangulation hazards.

“The Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, is a little agency with a big job it simply cannot do,” said Domenitz. “Congress needs to give it the tools it needs to do that big job better.” 

Domenitz  called on Congress to immediately pass the strongest possible product safety reforms under consideration: “We need  HR 3691, the SAFE Consumer Product Act (DeLauro (CT) to become law as soon as possible. It will give the CPSC the resources and tools it needs to carry out its mission.”

“It doesn’t matter whether a toy is made in China or made in Kansas,” said Domenitz. “Companies need to make sure that it is safe.” 

Domenitz also reminded parents that the toy list in the U.S. PIRG report is only a sampling of the potential hazards on store shelves.

“Shoppers should remember that no government agency tests toys. You should examine all toys carefully for hidden dangers before you make a purchase this holiday season, and watch for further recalls,” Domenitz concluded.

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MASSPIRG, a non-profit, non-partisan public interest organization  takes on powerful interests on behalf of its members, working to win concrete results for our health and our well-being. Click here to view the full report.  More information on toy safety is available at PIRG’s toysafety.net site.