Toy Safety In The News

If
you thought manufacturers had quit making toys capable of maiming and
debilitating the little ones, you're wrong – at least according to the
Texas Public Interest Research Group's 20th annual "Trouble in Toyland"
report, released last week. According to the report, 16 children died
from toy-related injuries last year. Researchers found toxic chemicals
such as phthalates, linked to a range of health effects, in several
plastic toys, including some labeled "phthalate-free." TEXPirg also
found that choking on small parts, small balls, and balloons remains a
leading cause of toy-related deaths and that many toys are improperly
labeled. Loudness was also cited as a hazard in the report, which noted
several toys that exceed the 90-decibel safety standard. Read the full
document at www.toysafety.net. – D.M.