Scientific tests on baby toys sold on Britain's High Streets show them to be packed with toxic chemicals according to results published by Greenpeace today (15/12/99). Many of these toys on sale in Britain are banned in other European countries because the chemicals leak out and can be swallowed by children.
The findings are the result of independent scientific tests commissioned by Greenpeace on five soft PVC toys all from leading retailers. In one example, a small yellow vinyl giraffe was discovered to contain nearly 50% of the harmful substance.
The toys, sold by the Early Learning Centre, Mothercare, Boots, Toys 'R' Us and Woolworth's, all contained between 24% and 42% of hazardous chemical softeners called phthalates, which have been linked to damage to the liver, kidneys and reproductive organs. Phthalates leak out of toys when children squeeze or suck them. Children may even absorb the toxic chemicals just by holding the toys.
Mark Strutt, Greenpeace toxics campaigner, said: "We chose to test these toys because they are just the sort of things babies and toddlers are likely to suck and chew. Young children are liable to swallow hazardous chemicals from these toys - a fact which will horrify most parents. Tony Blair should follow other European countries in banning toys containing phthalates."
Earlier this month the European Union agreed an emergency ban on six phthalates in baby toys "intended for the mouth" which, according to the European Commission, are liable to cause various health effects including liver and kidney damage. The ban, which is the first ever emergency product ban by the EU, only applies to toys "intended for the mouth" despite findings that children chew for longer on other toys like animal figures and squashy bricks. (1)
Many soft plastic toys are made out of PVC (also known as vinyl). Vinyl toys contain chemicals called phthalates to make them soft. Phthalates are liable to cause liver, kidney and testicular damage and the European Commission has warned that they are released in dangerous quantities when children chew vinyl toys for long periods.
Greenpeace will be inviting retailers to remove soft PVC toys for children under three years old from their shelves. This note explains how you can play a part.
Babies and toddlers should not swallow hazardous chemicals. But they do. Every time they play with a soft PVC toy.
Chemicals called phthalates (pronounced tha-lates) have been banned from use in all babies toys in 7 European countries, but soft PVC toys containing phthalates remain on sale throughout the UK.
Soft PVC toys contain phthalates to make them soft. (You can often smell these chemicals, or the vanilla essence used to disguise the smell, when you open the packaging).
As European member states unanimously gave the green light today to an emergency ban on chemicals in soft PVC teething toys "intended for the mouth", Greenpeace warned consumers that children are still at risk. The emergency Europe-wide ban will not include other soft PVC toys such as bath ducks and animal figures which children still suck.
Greenpeace highlighted a scientific study carried out for the Dutch Government, which shows that babies between 6 and 12 months suck and chew toys not "intended for the mouth" like bath toys and squash bricks for much longer periods than teethers and dummies.
Greenpeace welcomed today's EU decision to act on banning soft PVC toys for under threes as "a historic step". But the environment group blamed the UK Government for helping to water down the ban so that potentially dangerous toys will still be in the shops for Christmas.
Today's EU decision is the first time an emergency ban on hazardous substances in a consumer product has been proposed in Europe. It means the European Commission has recognised a "serious and immediate risk" from soft PVC plastic toys to children under three. However the ban is proposed to cover only toys "intended for the mouth", such as teethers. It covers PVC toys that have been softened with chemicals called phthalates. These have been linked with various health effects including damage to the liver, kidneys and reproductive organs. The ban will not force retailers to remove toys from the shops for Christmas, and will not include other soft PVC toys such as bath ducks and animal figures which children could still suck.
"We are glad the EU has recognised the irresponsibility of the PVC industry in selling hazardous toys to children," said Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner Mark Strutt, "But we are shocked at the role of Britain in keeping many soft PVC toys on the shelves."
Selaata, North Lebanon, 11 October 1999 - Greenpeace activists and the media were today assaulted by the police and guards, and shots were fired by the Lebanese military, during a peaceful protest at the dock of the major polluter in Lebanon, the Lebanese Chemical Company (LCC). Greenpeace is opposing the ecological crimes committed by this company which daily discharges toxic sludge into the Mediterranean.
