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In light of the massive recalls of Chinese-made
children’s toys, what are the major issues associated with chemicals
in toys?
Recent concerns surrounding toxic chemicals in
children’s toys have focused on “phthalates” (pronounced
THA-lates), a group of chemical compounds typically added to plastics to
increase their softness and flexibility, and bisphenol A (BPA), a building
block for polycarbonate plastic that is used primarily in shatter-resistant
baby bottles. Phthalates are found in numerous industrial and consumer
products, including plastic intravenous bags used in hospitals, fishing
lures, and nail polishes. One phthalate, diisononyl phthalate (DINP), is
commonly used in the manufacture of soft vinyl products for babies such as
bath books, rubber ducks, and teething rings. Studies have linked BPA to the disruption of hormone
function in rats and to increased breast and prostate cancer cell growth,
early puberty, and obesity in human beings. Other studies have linked
phthalates such as DINP to rodent cancers and genital abnormalities,
especially in males. The city of San Francisco would have been the first
U.S. jurisdiction to ban phthalates and BPA from children’s toys and
feeding products under a “Stop Toxic Toys” bill signed by Mayor
Gavin Newsom in June 2006, but lawsuits backed by chemical and toy
manufacturers (and filed by a coalition including the California Retailers
Association, the California Grocers Association, and the American Chemistry
Council) stalled the initiative, which had been set to take effect Dec. 1,
2006. Then, on Oct. 15, 2007, California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger signed the California Toxic Toys Bill, making California the
first state in the country to ban the use of phthalates in children’s
products. “We are thrilled that California is taking action to
protect our kids from dangerous chemicals,” says Dan Jacobson,
legislative director for Environment California, which co-sponsored the
legislation along with the Breast Cancer Fund. “This bill is so
important because as children’s minds and bodies go through the
delicate processes of growing and developing they are particularly
vulnerable to chemicals that could affect proper development.”
The European Union considers phthalates dangerous
enough to ban them from children’s products and has ordered the
removal of many variations from children’s products and banned still
others, including DINP, from anything that kids might put in their mouths.
Environment California and other groups see the EU ban as evidence that
alternatives to these plasticizers exist and must be explored in the U.S.
“Many places in the world have to comply with restrictions on
phthalates,” says Rachel Gibson, an attorney for Environment
California. “It’s a mystery why we sell toxic toys to American
kids.”
Until more stringent regulations are passed,
consumers can use the recycling codes on plastic products to determine
content. If it’s marked “7,” it’s polycarbonate
plastic and contains BPA; if it’s marked “3,” it’s
polyvinyl chloride plastic and contains potentially harmful phthalates.
For more information:
Environment California, www.environmentcalifornia.org/environmental-health/stop-toxic-toys;
Breast Cancer Fund, www.breastcancerfund.org/site/pp.asp?c=kwKXLdPaE&b=
3486437.
Send questions to Earth Talk, care of E/The Environmental Magazine,
P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881 or e-mail earthtalk@emagazine.com.
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
