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Toy Safety

 

What's New

24th annual Trouble in Toyland report

*To be released on Nov. 24, 2009*

Toys should bring kids joy, but sometimes they bring injury, serious harm, and in some cases, death. This holiday season, as we have for the past 23 years, U.S. PIRG is working to reduce the number of injuries and tragedies caused by dangerous toys.

Next Tuesday, November 24th, when we release our 24th annual Trouble in Toyland survey, we'll also release a new interactive smart phone website to help you avoid common hazards and report potential dangers you find on toy store shelves, right from your mobile phone.

The website, designed for web-enabled mobile phones as well as home computers, will provide tips on three categories of toy hazards: toys that may pose choking hazards, toys that are excessively loud, and toys that contain the toxic chemicals lead and phthalates.

"Now parents can shop safely and avoid purchasing potentially dangerous toys for their kids, said Elizabeth Hitchcock, U.S. PIRG's Public Health Advocate.

"And with our new, interactive tool, parents and other consumers can report toys they think are hazardous so we can investigate them and report them to the federal government," she added.

Check back here on Nov. 24 for the link to the new interactive site, and for a copy of the report.

Sign up for our Toy Safety Alerts!  Click here.

(Consumers should also report dangerous products to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. See below.)



How You Can Help

You can report dangerous toys and other products

If you suspect you have a toxic or otherwise dangerous toy or any unsafe product (coffeemaker, lawn mower, etc.), you can report it to the CPSC either online at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html or over the phone at Toll-free Consumer Hotline: 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270). Send a copy of your report to us at info@uspirg.org.



Overview

While most toys on store shelves are safe, we continue to find toys that pose a range of safety hazards to small children. As a result, parents and other child-care providers need to remain vigilant in order to prevent toy-related deaths and injuries.

Recently, U.S. PIRG broadened the scope of unsafe toys to include toys labeled as phthalate-free. Our analysis last year shows that even some products labeled phthalate-free contain the dangerous chemical.

Toy manufacturers should act swiftly to recall unsafe products and give parents the information they need to allow them to purchase safe toys for their children. U.S. PIRG and our allies have prompted recalls or regulatory action on over 100 toys.



This Elmo lunch bag, purchased at Toys R Us in the fall for an IllinoisPIRG study, was found to contain illegal levels of two phthalates. Phthalates lead to a wide array of harm to the human body - reproductive defects in men and women, premature birth, early onset puberty for young girls, and lower sperm counts in men. Because their bodies are still developing, children are more susceptible to the negative health effects of phthalates.


U.S. PIRG is also releasing a new, interactive mobile phone tool and website on November 24. This simple interactive tool will allow shoppers to check on possible hazards while at the store, or before they go shopping, as well as report hazards they find.

 

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