Environmental Impact

Why It Matters

The worst plastic used in children's toys, including teethers, bath toys and dolls, is polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, which creates dioxins in production and often contains phthalates, chemical softeners used to make the plastic soft and pliable. Considered "hormone disruptors" and linked with asthma and respiratory problems, phthalates can migrate out of toys and onto the hands (and into the mouths) of children. Fortunately, many companies are removing phthalates, and several states, including California and Maine, are initiating legislation that would ban the sale of any children's products containing these problem chemicals.

Another additive to PVC, lead has been cropping up in toys with unrelenting frequency. Hundreds of thousands toys, including Barbie dolls, Fisher-Price locomotives and Thomas the Tank Engines have been recalled due to violations of lead paint standards. Lead is also found in the paint of some old wood and metal toys, especially in imports. Lead is associated with a host of learning disabilities and behavior disorders, and even low exposures can carry lifelong effects.

Lead has also been found in other children's toys. In July 2004, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled all metal toy jewelry sold in vending machines—150 million pieces—that was imported by AA Global Industries Inc., Brand Imports, Cardinal Distributing Co. and L.M. Becker and Co. Inc. after it was found to contain lead and one young child was poisoned. In this instance, the toys were recalled before more children were affected, but government can react slowly to protect children, often not moving until after harm has been done.