MASSPIRG Highlights Hazards Posed by Magnets, Lead
BOSTON - Hazardous toys are still sold in stores across the country, according to the 21st annual toy safety survey released today by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group.
“While
we can report substantial progress after more than two decades of
advocacy on behalf of America’s littlest consumers, MASSPIRG still
found trouble in toyland,” said Maura Finigan with MASSPIRG.
According
to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 73,000 children under
the age of five were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related
injuries in 2004. Sixteen children died from toy related injuries that same year.
“Even one toy-related death is too many, because these deaths are preventable,” continued Finigan.
The 21st annual MASSPIRG Trouble in Toyland
report offers safety guidelines for purchasing toys for small children
and provides examples of toys currently on store shelves that pose
potential safety hazards. MASSPIRG research
focused on several categories of toy dangers: toys that pose choking
hazards, toys with powerful magnets, toys that contain lead, and toys
that are too loud.
Lead in Jewelry
Children exposed to lead can suffer delayed mental and physical development or even death. In February, a four year old died of lead poisoning after he swallowed a bracelet charm that contained 99% lead. MASSPIRG
researchers went to just a few stores and easily found four items of
children’s jewelry that contain high levels of lead, ranging from 1.8%
lead to 34% lead by weight.
“We’ve
known for decades that lead poses serious health risks to children, so
it is unacceptable that consumers can still find lead-laden children’s
jewelry on store shelves,” continued Finigan.
MASSPIRG
called on CPSC to enact and enforce mandatory requirements for jewelry
manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers to ensure their products do not
contain lead.
Choking Hazards
In
1979, the CPSC banned the sale of toys for children under three if they
contain small parts. The 1994 Child Safety Protection Act mandated an
explicit choke hazard warning on toys with small parts for children
between three and six.
•
MASSPIRG researchers found toys for children under three with small
parts and toys with small parts for children under six without the
required choke hazard warning.
• Children continue to choke on toys that meet the letter of the law. In
September, Playskool recalled the Team Talkin’ Tool Bench after two
children suffocated when the toy’s oversized plastic nails became
lodged in their throats. MASSPIRG found several
toys on store shelves that are shaped like corks or these toy nails
that could pose similar suffocation hazards.
“Toddlers put everything in their mouths,” said Finigan. “CPSC
should make the small parts test more protective of children under
three and consider warning labels for toys shaped like corks or the toy
nails that caused two children to suffocate,” continued Finigan.
Magnetic Toys
Toymakers have started using powerful magnets in building toys and magnetic jewelry. 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
little boy died last Thanksgiving and many others have had life-saving
surgery after swallowing magnets from MEGA Brands’ Magnetix toys.
“Swallowing a magnet is not like swallowing a penny. Powerful magnets can wreak havoc inside the body,” cautioned Finigan.
MEGA
Brands has modified the design of Magnetix and placed a label on the
toy’s packaging warning parents about the dangers of magnets. MASSPIRG
called on CPSC to require a warning label on all magnetic toys that
tells parents to seek immediate medical attention if a child swallows
magnets.
Finigan reminded parents that the toy list in the MASSPIRG report is only a sampling of the potential hazards on store shelves.
“Shoppers should examine all toys carefully for hidden dangers before they make a purchase this holiday season,” Finigan added.
