What you should know about toxic toys
By Kim Quintero KVAL NewsEUGENE, Ore. - Toxic toys could be lurking in a child's toy box or on store shelves. Not only do parents have to worry about avoiding dangerously high lead levels, but also other harmful chemicals found in plastic called phthalates. Six types of phthalates will be banned from children's products in February, but there are other toxins in toys to watch out for. At a press conference Wednesday, child safety advocates said there's no way for a parent to tell if toys are free of all dangerous chemicals. Meanwhile, kids are making their lists. "I think I want for Christmas is a truck," said 4-year-old Gage.
"I wanna new Rudolph that sings," said 4-year-old Kylie.
"A new Barbie truck," said 5-year-old Sarah.
So parents may want to be checking those lists more than twice. "There's a risk of brain injury, brain damage, kidney damage, and you might see that in terms of irritability," said Attorney Lara Johnson of Corson & Johnson Law Firm. Phthalates also cause reproductive problems, which prompted next year's ban.
"Products that are manufactured prior to February 10, 2009 could dumped on store shelves now, or during the Christmas season," said Johnson. According to Johnson, you can not test a toy for phthalates without taking it to a lab, but you can test for lead at home using a free kit.
"The other thing is just to use your common sense. If a toy is really malleable, or if you think it contains lead paint, you might just be cautious and not purchase that toy," said Johnson. Before the holiday shopping trip, make a list of exactly what toys you're going to buy, then compare that list to the recalled toys listed online. You can visit the Consumer Products Safety Commission or Healthy Toys.Org. Armed with that knowledge, 4-year-old Jesse is hoping his dad will find him a ninja turtle to replace his old one.
"It landed in the toilet and dad had to take it out and put it in the garbage," said Jesse.
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