June - Department of Defence

eyes, neck and face. New versions of the toy contain batteries to make the toy flash; thesebatteries can tear through the toy easily, posing a choking hazard if swallowed.In June 2005, Illinois became the first state to ban this toy. At the federal level, the CPSCshould ban all sales of yo-yo water balls and similar toys in the United States.LOUD TOYSAlmost 15 percent of children ages 6 to 17 show signs of hearing loss, according to a 1998 studypublished in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In November 2003, ASTMpromulgated a new acoustics standard for toys, setting the loudness threshold for most handheldtoys at 90 decibels; the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reportsthat prolonged exposure to sounds at 85 decibels or higher can result in hearing damage.PIRG researchers found: Several toys currently on toy store shelves may not meet the ASTM standards forappropriately loud toys. Several toys currently on toy store shelves exceed 100 decibels when measured at closerange.CPSC should enforce the ASTM acoustics standards for loud toys and consider strengtheningthe standards to reduce the sound threshold for hand-held toys from 90 decibels to 85 decibels.Toy manufacturers should go above and beyond the standards and not make hand-held toysthat produce sounds louder than 85 decibels.TOXIC CHEMICALS IN TOYSSome toys can pose hidden hazards, exposing children to dangerous chemicals that are linkedto serious health problems. PIRG researchers found: Manufacturers are selling play cosmetic sets that include nail polish containing toxicchemicals, such as toluene and xylene. Since children often put their hands in their mouths,nail polish applied to fingernails offers a direct route of exposure. Even though the European Union has banned or imposed wide restrictions on the use ofsix phthalates in toys and childcare products, some manufacturers of children’s productscontinue to use phthalates in toys for the U.S. market. Phthalates, a class of chemicals used to“plasticize” or soften otherwise hard PVC plastic material, have been linked to reproductivedefects and other health problems. In response to consumer concern about phthalates, some manufacturers are labelingtheir products as “phthalate-free.” The U.S. government, however, does not regulate the“phthalate-free” label or ensure that products labeled “phthalate-free” actually do notcontain phthalates. To test the reliability of the “phthalate-free” label, PIRG commissionedlaboratory tests of eight soft plastic toys labeled as not containing phthalates. Of the eighttoys tested, six contained detectable levels of phthalates.CPSC should ban phthalates in toys and other products intended for children under five andwork with the Federal Trade Commission to take immediate action to ensure that toysTrouble in Toyland 5