Health and Physical Hazards Identified in Test on Toys for Young Children - CHOICE # 445 (November 14, 2013)
The presence of the toxic plasticiser phthalates has been detected in toys for young children.
This safety warning was contained in a Consumer Council test report on 27 toys and children products of plastic and wood assessed as suitable for young children.
According to the test, phthalates at various levels were present in 16 of the samples. 7 of them - 3 bathing toys, 3 inflatable riding toys and 1 alphabet puzzle board - were however found with levels above the US and EU limit of 0.1% for phthalates in toys.
In particular, 4 of the toy samples were detected with extremely high levels of phthalates ranging in maximum content of the samples from 28.6% to 37.9%, equivalent to as many as 286 and 379 times of the US and EU limit.
Toys and children articles containing more than 0.1% of phthalates are banned in those countries.
In Hong Kong, the Legislative Council is presently considering amendment of the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance to introduce phthalates control over toys and certain children products.
Phthalates are commonly added to hard plastics to improve their flexibility and durability. Most of them have low acute toxicity in humans and the main concern is over the effect of chronic exposure.
Animal studies revealed that chronic exposure to phthalates might result in toxicity and damage of the liver and kidney as well as reproductive toxicity. The health risk to young children is of particular concern because of their natural tendency to chew and suck objects that come their way.
Contamination of toxic chemicals and heavy metals has long been an area of concern of the Council in its periodic surveillance of unsafe toys and children products on the market.
The good news in the latest test report is that: none of the samples failed tests for the presence of lead and other heavy metals and toxic elements. This is one big step forward in the Council's continual efforts to monitor the safety of toys and children products.
In the test, all models were shown to achieve satisfactory results in respect of total lead content and migration of 8 elements, namely, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium. Migration refers to how much of these elements will leach out and be absorbed by a person after ingestion.
In addition, the test also examined the products for their mechanical and physical structure in respect of small parts and any unusual shapes and sizes of parts that may pose choking and suffocation hazards to young children.
24 of the samples were put to the test under stringent test criteria as required for toys intended for the 3-year-old or under.
The results: 6 toy samples - a wiggling worm, number house, alphabet puzzle and 3 bathing toy sets - failed the test for such physical hazards as small parts or unusual shapes and sizes.
The samples were also subjected to a tension test, and 9 samples found themselves in safety non-compliance with the detection of small parts.
Further, one model was found to have a high noise level which may cause damage to a child's hearing. One other model was packaged with a very thin film of less than 0.038 mm which may pose risk of suffocation.
On labeling, 7 models were found without any information about the name of the supplier and the local address on the product label.
The Council has notified the Customs and Excise Department, the enforcement agency on the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance.
This safety warning was contained in a Consumer Council test report on 27 toys and children products of plastic and wood assessed as suitable for young children.
According to the test, phthalates at various levels were present in 16 of the samples. 7 of them - 3 bathing toys, 3 inflatable riding toys and 1 alphabet puzzle board - were however found with levels above the US and EU limit of 0.1% for phthalates in toys.
In particular, 4 of the toy samples were detected with extremely high levels of phthalates ranging in maximum content of the samples from 28.6% to 37.9%, equivalent to as many as 286 and 379 times of the US and EU limit.
Toys and children articles containing more than 0.1% of phthalates are banned in those countries.
In Hong Kong, the Legislative Council is presently considering amendment of the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance to introduce phthalates control over toys and certain children products.
Phthalates are commonly added to hard plastics to improve their flexibility and durability. Most of them have low acute toxicity in humans and the main concern is over the effect of chronic exposure.
Animal studies revealed that chronic exposure to phthalates might result in toxicity and damage of the liver and kidney as well as reproductive toxicity. The health risk to young children is of particular concern because of their natural tendency to chew and suck objects that come their way.
Contamination of toxic chemicals and heavy metals has long been an area of concern of the Council in its periodic surveillance of unsafe toys and children products on the market.
The good news in the latest test report is that: none of the samples failed tests for the presence of lead and other heavy metals and toxic elements. This is one big step forward in the Council's continual efforts to monitor the safety of toys and children products.
In the test, all models were shown to achieve satisfactory results in respect of total lead content and migration of 8 elements, namely, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium. Migration refers to how much of these elements will leach out and be absorbed by a person after ingestion.
In addition, the test also examined the products for their mechanical and physical structure in respect of small parts and any unusual shapes and sizes of parts that may pose choking and suffocation hazards to young children.
24 of the samples were put to the test under stringent test criteria as required for toys intended for the 3-year-old or under.
The results: 6 toy samples - a wiggling worm, number house, alphabet puzzle and 3 bathing toy sets - failed the test for such physical hazards as small parts or unusual shapes and sizes.
The samples were also subjected to a tension test, and 9 samples found themselves in safety non-compliance with the detection of small parts.
Further, one model was found to have a high noise level which may cause damage to a child's hearing. One other model was packaged with a very thin film of less than 0.038 mm which may pose risk of suffocation.
On labeling, 7 models were found without any information about the name of the supplier and the local address on the product label.
The Council has notified the Customs and Excise Department, the enforcement agency on the Toys and Children's Products Safety Ordinance.
http://www.consumer.org.hk/website/ws_en/news/press_releases/p44501.html
http://www.news.gov.hk/tc/categories/health/html/2014/02/20140212_150429.shtml
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