If you plan to do some holiday shopping for the children in your life, be very careful about the toys you buy this season. U.S. Public Research Interest Group’s 29th annual Trouble in Toyland report and ToySafetyTips.org both found that dangerous toys are being sold in some stores.
Laboratory tests revealed that some toys contain toxic chemicals such as lead, chromium, and phthalates, which can all be harmful to a child’s health and development. Furthermore, the study found that some of the small toys can pose a choking hazard and other toys were loud enough to cause hearing damage.
“We should be able to trust that the toys we buy are safe. However, until that’s the case, parents need to watch out for common hazards when shopping for toys,†said Sujatha Jahagirdar, U.S. PIRG Public Health Campaign Director, in a statement.
Key report findings:
- Toys containing phthalates were above legal limits, as well as toys with lead or chromium content.
- Although small parts in toys for children under the age of 3 are banned, U.S. Public Research Interest Group still found toys available in stores that posed choking hazards advertised for children age 2 and up.
- The organization found small, powerful magnets that were a potential threat to children if swallowed.
For updates on recalled and unsafe products, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission.