Overview

In the wake of 2007's massive toy recalls that brought into question the effectiveness of our product safety net, WashPIRG and our partners at the Toxic Free Legacy Coalition passed the Children’s Safe Products Act (CSPA). This landmark legislation bans lead, cadmium and phthalates from products intended for children and requires manufacturers to report to the Washington Department of Ecology whether their product contains chemicals of high concern to children. With Washington leading the way, several other states implemented stronger toy safety standards and eventually pushed the federal government to act. In August of 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act which set national standards for lead and phthalates and strengthened our product safety net.

These steps were vital for protecting our kids from unsafe products and improving our product safety net. Over the two years, millions of toys containing lead, a highly toxic element, have been pulled from store shelves due to the risk they pose to children. Unfortunately, Washington lacked vital protections that would have kept toxic substances out of toys and other consumer products. As a result, many chemicals, known or suspected to be hazardous to human health and the environment, are regularly used in common consumer products.

Lead, for example, has been found in lunchboxes, kitchenware, toys, furniture, and clothing. Lead has been linked to various neurological complications, including mental retardation, and neurobehavioral effects, such as hyperactivity and lowered cognitive functioning.

Another unregulated group of toxins, known as phthalates, is also common in countless consumer products. The polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry uses phthalates as a softener to make their products more flexible. Because PVC is such a widely used material, phthalates can be found in everything from home siding to food packaging. In addition, phthalates are often used in personal care products such as shampoo, soap, hand lotion, cosmetics and perfume and often find their way into products marketed to children. Links have been found between phthalates and various health problems in humans. Phthalates have been shown to have severe effects on reproductive and developmental health, including lowered sperm count and abnormal genital development in males and early onset puberty in females. A 2003 study also found links between exposure to phthalates and premature delivery.

Lead and phthalates are just two examples among many of the pervasive use of toxic substances in children’s products. While huge steps have been taken in the last year, there is still almost no state or federal oversight of commonly used toxic chemicals in many consumer products in the United States, even those meant for children. Chemicals aren’t tested for safety before they go into products and even when dangerous chemicals are found in people and the environment, they often aren’t banned from use. WashPIRG will continue to work for state and federal chemical policy reform.