Experts fear economy may spur sales of unsafe toys
November 12, 2008
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Jennifer C. Kerr and Natasha T. Metzler
WASHINGTON – U.S. safety officials worry that the economic downturn will drive discount-seeking parents to buy used toys tainted by lead or with dangerous designs.
They are particularly concerned that money-conscious parents will purchase holiday gifts from second-hand, online sellers, who may not be aware of safety issues.
"In stretching today's dollar, we do not want you to sacrifice safety," acting Consumer Product Safety Commission chair Nancy Nord said Wednesday.
She encouraged parents to research any products they buy second-hand for prior recalls.
Nord also stressed the CPSC's increased vigilance in targeting unsafe toys.
"The real good news this season, is the fact that the agency is inspecting more, but we are finding fewer violations," Nord said. "And we're seeing that across the board, but certainly with respect to lead paint."
She noted that a new U.S. port inspections program resulted in 238 seized shipments of toys, which were denied entry for safety violations. However this import surveillance program is conducted by just nine people.
Recalls of toys or children's products because of lead paint or lead content are down sharply in the U.S., from a record 112 in 2007 to 64 this year. There were 20 lead recalls in 2006 and only 13 in 2005.
"I don't think at this point that anyone who makes a toy is looking to save a little bit extra on the margin by using cheap materials," says Michael Green, executive director of the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland, Calif.
"But I am not confident that they're all going to be able to do the job and get the lead out."
The number of lead recalls this year worries Nancy Cowles, executive director of Chicago-based Kids In Danger.
"Progress is being made, but parents still need to be concerned about brightly painted or brightly coloured plastic toys," said Cowles. "There's still lead out there on products."
Even though lead has been banned in paint in the United States since the 1970s, it has still turned up in millions of toys in recent years. Lead poisoning can cause irreversible learning disabilities, behavioural problems and, at very high levels, seizures, coma and death.
Nord says parents should feel reassured.
"It's very important that parents have a sense of perspective here. There are three billion toys sold each year and the vast majority are safe for children," Nord said in an interview with The Associated Press.
An AP analysis of Consumer Product Safety Commission data shows most of this year's recalls were not from the big toy makers, but from smaller companies, and most of the products were made in China. The rest came from Vietnam, India, Peru, Taiwan and Korea.
"We always recommend to buy from reputable retailers," said Alan Korn, director of public policy for Safe Kids Worldwide. "And that can be the big-box stores. But it can also be your local mom-and-pop, someone who really cares about the safety of the products.''
Mattel and Hasbro say their products are already rigorously tested for lead.
Both companies test the paint and other raw materials used in their toys before manufacturing. They then take test samples during the manufacturing process and later test the finished product. Mattel increased random inspections at Chinese factories amid a string of recalls last year, including a recall of more than 600,000 Barbie accessory toys.
The CPSC also cautioned parents about other toy-related risks:
The importance of helmets and safety gear for scooters, in-line skates and skateboards.
Avoiding toys with small parts and small balls for children under three.
Keeping children under eight away from uninflated or broken balloons.
The danger of swallowing small, powerful magnets in building or play sets, which aren't recommended for children under six.
The need for adult supervision when toys require battery chargers and adapters.
thestar.com