AUSTIN—Hazardous toys are still sold in stores across the country,
according to the 21 st annual toy safety survey released today by the
Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG).
“While
we can report substantial progress after more than two decades of
advocacy on behalf of America’s littlest consumers, TexPIRG still found
trouble in toyland,” said Jeff Brooks, Public Interest Advocate with
TexPIRG.
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,” Brooks added.
The 21st annual TexPIRG 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. TexPIRG’s research focused on several
categories of toy dangers: toys that pose choking hazards, toys with
powerful magnets, toys that contain lead and toys with other problems.
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.
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TexPIRG 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. TexPIRG 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 Brooks. “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 Brooks.
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 Brooks.
MEGA Brands has modified the design of Magnetix and placed a label on
the toy’s packaging warning parents about the dangers of magnets.
TexPIRG 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.
TexPIRG 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 Brooks.
TexPIRG called on CPSC to enact and enforce mandatory requirements for
jewelry manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers to ensure their
products do not contain lead.
Strangulation Hazards
CPSC has decided to take another look at the dangers posed by
water yo-yos after a five-year-old Bellevue, Washington boy almost
suffocated in October when the toy’s stretchy cord wrapped tightly
around his neck several times. CPSC has recorded about 400 injuries to
the eyes, face and neck since this toy came on the market three years
ago.
“CPSC should not wait until a child dies to protect children from the dangers posed by playing with this toy,” said Brooks.
TexPIRG called on CPSC to follow the state of Illinois’s lead and ban the water yo-yo immediately.
Brooks reminded parents that the toy list in the TexPIRG 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,” Brooks added.
