Tallahassee -- Hazardous toys are still sold in stores across the country, according to the 21 st annual Trouble In Toyland survey released today by the Florida Public Interest Research Group (Florida PIRG).
“While
we can report substantial progress after more than two decades of
advocacy on behalf of America ’s littlest consumers, Florida PIRG still
found trouble in toyland," said Brad Ashwell, Consumer Advocate with
Florida PIRG.
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,” said Dr. Sam Ashoo, an Emergency Medicine Specialist at
Tallahassee Memorial Hospital .
The 21 st annual 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. Florida PIRG’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 contain toxic
chemicals.
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.
•
Florida PIRG 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. Florida PIRG 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 Ashwell. “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 Ashwell.
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 Ashwell.
MEGA Brands has modified the design of Magnetix and placed a label on
the toy’s packaging warning parents about the dangers of magnets.
Florida PIRG 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.
Florida PIRG 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 Ashwell.
Florida PIRG called on the CPSC to enact and enforce mandatory
requirements for jewelry manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers to
ensure their products do not contain lead.
Ashwell reminded parents that the toy list in the Florida PIRG 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,” added Michelle Ubben with Whole Child
Leon.
