Sweden finds banned phthalates in toys

26-Aug-2011

The Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemi) has tested a number of toys and found that some contained levels of phthalates in concentrations higher than those legally permitted.

According to Kemi, after an analysis of 22 inflatable toys for use in water such as bathing rings, mattresses and beach balls, it found that three of the products contained higher than acceptable levels of the phthalates DINP and DIDP. The agency said that the companies, which had supplied the three toys, had been informed of the results and must now stop selling the products.

Frida Ramström, technical officer in Kemi's enforcement division, said the companies contacted were all Swedish and that “all of the products were made in China”.

She added that the agency planned to analyse more toys this autumn to examine phthalate levels. “This time it will not be bathing toys, but soft plastic toys like dolls, Halloween masks and so on," she explained. "I cannot say when the results from this study will be finished, since we have not started yet, but hopefully before Christmas.” Read more

Toxic fun

30 percent of  toys gathered in different Philippine’s toys stores and tested by EcoWaste Coalition and International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) were positive “for at least one toxic metal above levels of concern,” with 60 of them containing one of a group of dangerous chemicals that are known to be poisonous: antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead or mercury. Read more

Common Statement now available in Russian!

The common statement of the safe toys coalition is now available in Russian. Please have a look at the category "Common Statement".

Heavy metals found in toys bought in Lagos, Nigeria

High levels of heavy metals were found in toys bought in Lagos, Nigeria. 51 Toys bought in different cities in Nigeria were examined. Lead, Cadmium, Nickel and Chromium were found in all the tested toys in varying concentrations.
The full legnths paper can be downloaded here.

Cadmium in in children's jewlery: high exposure when mothed or swallowed!

Scientists revealed very concerning findings in a study, published in the peer-review journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). Children who mouth or swallow cadmium containing jewelerymay be exposed to as much as 100 times the recommended maximum exposure limit to this toxic metal. The study revealed that damaged pieces leached in some cases up to 30 times more Cadmium than undamaged ones. The researchers found results, which indicate that the longer a cadmium containing piece stays in the child´s stomach, the more of the toxic metal leaches.
Cadmium can cause kidney, bone, lung and liver disease.

Read the article on Science Daily and the abstract on ehp. Download the original study from ehp here.

High levels of Phtalates found in childcare dust

A studie conducted by the German NGO BUND has revealed that in dust, collected in German childcare institutions, high levels of the phatalates DINP and DEHP were found. Here you can read more in German about the study. The European Union classifies DEHP officially as toxic to the reproductive system, DINP is not yet classified. The levels of these softeners were on average thrice as high as as those found in German households in a survey conducted by the German federal environment agency (UBA).
Softeners in toys are allready banned, but still allowed in other products.

How to choose toxic free toys - handy guides in several languages

WECF has put together essential information in small guides. There are tips for everyday life consumer decisions when buying toys for children. The guide is available in several languages, such as Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Dutch or Macedonia. The newest translation is in Estonian. You can find them on the WECF website.