The Problem
Current federal safety regulations for children’s toys and other products inadequately addresses the presence of chemicals linked to harmful health and developmental impacts of children. This past summer, millions of toys were recalled because of dangerous levels of lead paint, but lead has also been found in children’s jewelry, vinyl baby bibs, and lunch boxes.
While many of the recalled toys were manufactured in China, the problem of toxic toys is not just lead from China. Many children’s products such as toys, baby bottles, car safety seats, baby shampoos, and clothing contain toxic chemicals linked to health impacts such as reproductive problems, learning disabilities, hormone problem, and cancer.
Beyond Lead: The Chemicals in Toys
While many chemicals compounds in toys may lead to health and environmental problems, here are the most common ones found in a December 2007 project:
Lead
- Lead is a heavy metal used in a variety of children’s products.
- Scientists have found that there is no safe level of lead for children; even the smallest amount affects children’s ability to learn.
- Lead impacts brain development, causing the potential for learning and developmental problems, including decreased IQ scores, shorter attention spans, and delayed learning.
Phthalates
- Phthalates are used in many plastics, especially PVC (vinyl) to make the plastic flexible.
- Exposure to phthalates is linked to birth defects of the genitals and altered levels of reproductive hormones in baby boys.
Cadmium
- Cadmium is a heavy metal that is found in a variety of children's products.
- Cadmium is associated with developmental effects, including possible decrease in birth weight, delayed sensory-motor development, hormonal effects, and altered behavior.
Current Laws are Lacking
The federal government rarely regulated commonly used synthetic chemicals in consumer products, even those intended for children, despite current scientific evidence of the hazards of many of these chemicals. For example:
- The only federal law on lead in toys is thirty years old and only applies to lead in paint—it does not regulate lead in other materials, making lead in vinyl (PVC) products (like teething rings and baby bibs), plastics, or jewelry legal—even though safer alternatives exist.
- The federal government doesn’t require companies to tell consumers what is in their products or to label them so consumers can make their own decisions.
- The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) does not have the authority to ensure that toys are safe. The CPSC has no legal authority to test children’s products before sale. Recalls are mostly voluntary and rarely happen unless a company alerts the agency of a problem.
We Cannot Wait to Act
While there are thousands of toxic chemicals on the market and many are in products our children sleep on, put in their mouths, play with, and wear every day, there is no system to ensure that these products are safe. The same chemicals in these products end up as a waste problem in landfills and incinerators and a contamination problem throughout Alaska. We also know that some of these chemicals are building up in the food chain and in our own bodies. Alaska must urge the federal government to strengthen regulation of toys and products intended for children to protect public health.
Take Action:
To write to your legislator Click Here!
To write a letter to the editor Click Here!
Please contact the Juneau Watchdog at if you have any questions or would like more information.
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