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News Release
For immediate release: September 27, 2007
New Testing Finds Lead in Children’s PVC Toys Sold in Massachusetts
Advocates Urge Recall of PVC/Vinyl Toys at Global Chemical Industry Conference and Call for Statewide Policy Reform to Replace Toxic Toys with Safer Alternatives
(Boston, MA) Still reeling from recalls of toys contaminated with lead, the toy industry takes another hit from new testing that identifies popular children’s PVC (vinyl) toys containing lead. Advocates purchased toys and child-care products from stores at several different locations in greater Boston and tested them for lead. Of the more than fifty products sampled, eleven contained lead and three contained extremely high lead levels including a Nick, Jr. “Go Diego, Go” backpack, a “Superfly” monkey, and a pair of Circo “Lulu” boots. Ten of the eleven products that tested positive for lead are made of PVC. To sample the toys, the groups used a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device, which identifies the elemental composition of any material in less than 60 seconds.
“Lead has no place in our children’s toys, especially when safer alternatives are available,” said Dr. Sean Palfrey, Medical Director of the Boston Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. “Exposure to lead can cause learning, language and behavioral problems such as lowered IQ, seizures and brain damage, anemia, and, after long exposure, damage to the kidneys.”
Advocates released the toy testing results and demonstrated the “instant-analysis” toy testing technology at a news conference in Boston outside the Global Vinyl Forum conference, a gathering of over 200 representatives from PVC chemical companies around the world. A group of women wore pregnant belly costumes to highlight how lead and phthalates found in vinyl toys can harm infants. Large banners that read “PVC Toys Poisoning Our Future” and “Play it Safer” flanked them.
“PVC children’s toys are poisoning our future and these toxic toys should be recalled,” said Lois Gibbs, Executive Director of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice. “Parents shouldn’t have to worry whether their children’s PVC toys contain lead or other toxic chemicals that have been banned in Europe. The good news is safer and healthier alternatives are available.”
Bay State advocates are also issuing a call to action for the state legislature and Governor. The legislature is currently considering the Safe Alternatives Bill (H.783 & S.558) which creates a state program to require that companies replace lead and other hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives where feasible. In addition, the groups are urging Governor Patrick to add PVC toys to a recently proposed ban of lead-containing toy jewelry. Other states have already taken broad action to prohibit the sale of toys and childcare articles containing lead. Illinois recently passed comprehensive lead poisoning prevention legislation, and three separate bills targeting lead in vinyl lunch boxes, children’s jewelry and child-care articles passed the Michigan Senate earlier this year and are currently being considered by the House.
"The fact that we are still able to find so many lead-laden products for sale in Massachusetts shows that recalls alone won’t protect our children’s health,” said Elizabeth Saunders of Clean Water Action. “Federal policies are clearly not getting the job done. It’s time for Governor Patrick and the Massachusetts Legislature to join the states taking comprehensive action to protect children from poisons like lead in everyday products.”
"I unknowingly exposed my children to lead and carcinogens by using PVC products,” said Laura Sparks, concerned Boston area mother. “I used teethers for my children, put them in soft inflatable pools, had a vinyl shower curtain, painting smock and toys. I would never have used these products had I known that they were considered dangerous."
The 11 toys and products that were confirmed to contain lead include:
- Nick, Jr. Go Diego, Go Backpack
- Superfly Monkey
- Circo Lulu Boots
- Lazy Baby (Kid Connection)
- Sassy Bathtime Pals
- Spiderman Backpack
- Yellow Ducks distributed by T.W.I.E.
- Wal-Mart Neon Writing Slate
- McDonalds Play Food Set
- Fuzzy Fleece Baby (Goldberger)
- Spiderman Pencil Case
Lead is sometimes used as an additive in PVC plastic products including toys. Recent reports indicate that the world stock of PVC in use contains 3.2 million tons of lead. Previous testing has detected lead in a broad range of consumer products including PVC toys, lunchboxes, baby bibs, jewelry, garden hoses, mini blinds, Christmas trees, and electronics. PVC children’s toys also often contain phthalates, reproductive toxicants that have been banned in toys in Europe. In the past year, Wal-Mart has recalled PVC baby bibs and lunchboxes containing lead, and most recently Toys R Us recalled PVC baby bibs containing lead.
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