Press Release

Toxic Toys Still an Issue As Tougher Safety Law Nears
Wednesday, December 03, 2008

For More Information Contact
Teresa Kelly
512/328-4276
teresapkelly@msn.com

Toxic Toys Still an Issue As Tougher Safety Law Nears

“Recall Roundup” offers free lead-testing kits to help Get the Lead Out

Eugene, OR – Children’s health and safety advocates today offered free lead-testing kits to parents and childcare centers warning that millions of toxic toys are still in homes. They echoed concerns by some national consumer groups that new ones may flood store shelves during the last holiday season before tough, new federal toy safety standards go into effect on Feb. 10.

They also provided a show-and-tell of other unsafe toys being sold this holiday season that feature choking hazards, dangerous noise levels and other health and safety risks for children.

“Some children’s products containing high lead levels are still being sold, even though they have been recalled,” said Laura Johnson, whose law firm, Corson & Johnson, brought the campaign to the Willamette Valley and is offering the free lead testing kits. “These include Elmo’s Take-Along Card Games and Fairies Backpack, recalled, but both found on the internet,” she said.

“Despite the recall of millions of toys containing dangerous lead levels since 2007, only a small percentage of toys were returned to manufacturers—about 6 percent in some cases. Either parents didn’t get the news, or didn’t understand the danger. We want to raise awareness and to help parents and child care providers get these toxic items out of the hands of children” Johnson said. The lead testing kits, lists of dangerous toys and other information can be obtained through the firm’s website, www.corsonjohnsonlaw.com.

The offer is part of an initiative by legal, medical, child care, environmental and manufacturing groups called “Recall Roundup.” The initiative is aimed at getting recalled consumer products, especially those that may come into contact with children, out of homes and child care centers. Johnson was joined by representatives of the United Steelworker’s (USW) “Women of Steel” advocacy group who started the Get the Lead Out initiative, the Children’s Environmental Health Institute, and the National Association of Child Care Professionals.

High amounts of lead in toys, especially those imported from China and other third-world countries, sparked massive recalls in 2007 and this year, leading to the passage of the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

But the act doesn’t go into effect until February, leading some consumer groups to warn that manufacturers and sellers may try to dispose of the toys on the market before they become illegal. And with the economy, gift givers may be buying toys at dollar and resale stores. Therefore, parents should be diligent, Johnson said.

The USW “Women of Steel” has sought to raise public awareness about lead dangers, including training parents and childcare workers to use lead testing kits, as part of a campaign to stop toxic imports, said representative Rosie Gonzales.

“Lead is toxic and can cause serious health problems, especially in children. Excessive a mounts of lead in the bloodstream can cause neurological damage, loss of I.Q points, brain damage and death,” she said.

“This is a problem created by failed U.S. trade policies that send U.S. jobs – but not U.S. quality standards – overseas,” Gonzales, adding, “Countries with toxic air and toxic water produce toxic goods.”

Even with new federal standards, states should be diligent, too, Johnson said. “While lawmakers should be commended for swiftly passing this significant overhaul of consumer product safety laws, we have to ask ourselves, ‘Does it go far enough?’ Some 29 states have passed or are considering even stricter laws. We believe Oregon should join them. We will be meeting with lawmakers to discuss our concerns,” she added.

The lead test involves simply swabbing a toy with a special substance. If the swab turns pink, there is sufficient lead in the toy to pose a danger if placed in the mouth, she said.

But while lead has dominated headlines, the most deaths and injuries from toys continue to involve other factors, Johnson said, noting that in 2007, toy-related accidents claimed the lives of 18 children under the age of 15, and sent 232,900 children to hospitals for treatment of injuries.

The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and Toysafety.org, issued annual reports last week listing major toy dangers this season. PIRG’s top findings:

-- Choking remains the most common cause of toy-related deaths. Parents should never give children younger than 3 balloons, small balls, or toys with small parts that may break off. By law these toys carry a hazard warning.

-- Many toys still contain dangerous levels of phthalates (pronounced thay’lates) a chemical often added to plastic to make it softer. Certain types of phthalates are banned under the new law, but are still widely available. Be especially careful of soft rubber toys. Choose unpainted wooden or cloth toys instead. Read the labels of play cosmetics and avoid products with xylene or toluene or phthalates.

-- Powerful magnets found in some children’s building toys, darts and magnetic jewelry can pose a serious health risk if swallowed. Do not give these toys to children under six.

-- Toys that make noise can damage children’s hearing. If it’s too loud for a parent, it is too loud for a child. Take the batteries out or cover speakers with tape.

Toysafety.org named the following the “10 most dangerous toys for 2008”:

1. Animal Alley Purse Pet (Ingestion/Aspiration Injuries)

2. Ninja Battle Gear – Michelangelo (Blunt Impact Injuries)
3. Walk’n Sounds Digger The Dog (Strangulation/Entanglement Injuries)

4. Pucci Puppies - My Own Puppy House Golden Retriever (Choking Injuries)

5. Meadow Mystery Play-A-Sound Book With A Cuddly Pooh (Choking Injuries)

6. Inflatable Giga Ball (Impact and Other Serious Injuries)

7. Spider-Man Adjustable Toy Skates (Wrist and other impact injuries)

8. Sportsman Shotgun (Potential for eye injuries)

9. Extreme Spiral Copters (Eye injuries)

10. Go Go Minis Pullback Vehicle (Choking injuries)