Lead and Cadmium in PVC Toys

A Greenpeace study has uncovered hazardous levels of the heavy metals lead and cadmium in a number of vinyl (or polyvinyl chloride -- PVC) consumer products in the U.S. Many of these products are kids' toys, raincoats and backpacks, festooned with cartoon characters, sold by the largest retailers: Kmart, Wal-Mart, Target and Toys 'R' Us. Independent labs found that vinyl products containing lead -- a neurotoxin -- are particularly common, and that the levels are hazardous to health. 18% of the products tested violated limits recommended by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for lead in vinyl miniblinds. Cadmium, a known carcinogen and kidney toxin, is not regulated in kids' products by CPSC. Lead and cadmium are released as toxic dust on the products' surfaces as they age. Greenpeace recommends that, until manufacturers discontinue vinyl products targeted at children, parents return all PVC products to the manufacturer or retailer. [Greenpeace Exposé, October 1997]