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What’s New
On March 31, 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a voluntary recall of all Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets, imported by Rose Art Industries. According to the CPSC, tiny magnets inside the plastic building pieces can fall out. If a child swallows more than one magnet, the magnets can attract to each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage. CPSC has received reports of 34 incidents involving small magnets, including one death and four serious injuries. A 20-month-old boy died in Washington State after he swallowed magnets that twisted his small intestine and created a blockage. Three other children, ranging from 3 to 8 years old, also suffered intestinal perforations that required surgery and hospitalization. Another 5-year-old child aspirated two magnets that had to be surgically removed from his lung.
Consumers should stop using the magnetic sets and return the sets to Rose Art for a free replacement product suitable for young children under the age of 6.
How You Can Help
Recent testing shows that some children’s products contain phthalates - a class of chemicals linked with a range of harmful health effects - despite having labels that claim they are “phthalate-free.”
Tell the Federal Trade Commission to make sure parents and consumers know the truth about toxic chemicals in children’s products.
Brief Summary
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), three-fourths of the 210,000 people who sought treatment in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries in 2004 were younger than 15. Sixteen children died from toy related injuries that year. Even one toy-related death is too many, because these deaths are preventable.
For 20 years, U.S. PIRG has identified toys on store shelves that may pose hidden hazards, advocated for tough toy safety standards, and offered parents safety guidelines for purchasing toys for small children. Our work has led to more than 120 CPSC recalls and other enforcement actions against toy manufacturers.
Today, U.S. PIRG is working to ensure manufacturers are labeling their toys with accurate safety information and persuade manufacturers and policy-makers to remove toxic chemicals from children’s products. More.
In the States
Environment California: Environment California’s Stop Toxic Toys campaign is working to ban two toxic chemicals that are commonly found in children’s products and are known to cause developmental and reproductive problems.
News Releases
November 22, 2005. Consumer Group Alerts Shoppers To Hidden Toy Hazards; U.S. PIRG Petitions Federal Trade Commission to Investigate Toys Falsely Labeled “Phthalate Free.”
October 12, 2005. New Report Documents Dangerous Chemicals in Baby Products; Parents Need Information to Protect Their Kids.
February 25, 2005. Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls Musical Toy Identified on U.S. PIRG’s 2004 Dangerous Toy List. (PDF)
January 19, 2005. Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls Toy Drum Identified on U.S. PIRG’s 2004 Dangerous Toy List. (PDF)
Reports
Trouble in Toyland: The 20th Annual Survey of Toy Safety, November 2005.
The Right Start: The Need to Eliminate Toxic Chemicals from Baby Products, October 2005
Trouble in Toyland: The 19th Annual Survey of Toy Safety, November 2004
Trouble in Toyland: The 18th Annual Survey of Toy Safety, November 2003
Trouble in Toyland: The 17th Annual Survey of Toy Safety, November 2002
Hidden Hazards: Health Impacts of Toxins in Polymer Clays, July 2002
Petitions
Petition submitted to the Federal Trade Commission, November 2005. U.S. PIRG asked the Federal Trade Commission investigate toy manufacturers that are mislabeling their products as “phthalate-free.” (PDF)
Petition submitted to the Food and Drug Administration, November 2005. U.S. PIRG asked the Food and Drug Administration to require manufacturers to stop using xylene, toluene, and dibutyl phthalate in nail polish marketed for children.
Other Resources
Tips for Toy Safety. This guide is designed to help parents, grandparents, care givers and toy buyers avoid the most common hazards in toys. Available in English and Spanish.
Summary of Toy Hazards and Examples of Potentially Dangerous Toys. In September and October 2005, we compiled this list of potentially hazardous toys found on store shelves.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). To report an unsafe product or toy-related injury to the CPSC, fill out the web form at https://www.cpsc.gov/incident.html. You also can report an incident or unsafe product by calling toll-free at 1-800-638-2772 or by sending an e-mail to
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Recalls.gov. Visit www.Recalls.gov for information on recalled toys and other unsafe, hazardous or defective products. This website is a joint project of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard.
