TRI-CITIES—Hazardous
toys are still sold in stores across the country, according to the 21st
annual toy safety survey released today by the Washington Public
Interest Research Group (WashPIRG).
“While
we can report substantial progress after more than two decades of
advocacy on behalf of America’s littlest consumers, WashPIRG still
found trouble in toyland,” said Eva Tallmadge with WashPIRG.
According
to the most recent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), almost 73,000 children under the age of five were treated in
emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2005. Twenty children died
from toy-related injuries last year.
“Even one toy-related death is too many, because these deaths are preventable,” continued Tallmadge.
The
21st annual WashPIRG 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.
WashPIRG’s 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.
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.
•
WashPIRG 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. WashPIRG 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 Tallmadge. “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 Tallmadge.
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 Tallmadge.
MEGA
Brands has modified the design of Magnetix and placed a label on the
toy’s packaging warning parents about the dangers of magnets. WashPIRG
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.
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.
WashPIRG 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 Tallmadge.
WashPIRG
called on CPSC to enact and enforce mandatory requirements for jewelry
manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers to ensure their products do not
contain lead.
“Shoppers
should examine all toys carefully for hidden dangers before they make a
purchase this holiday season,” Tallmadge added.
