A Study of Phthalates in Toys Written by Erika Schreder, M.S
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Not so SqUeaky Clean A Study of Phthalates in Toys Written by Erika Schreder, M.S. Staff Scientist at the Washington Toxics Coalition Not So Squeaky Clean is a Washington Toxics Coalition report for the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition. Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Maria Mergel, who Easthope of the Ecology Center in Michigan also made invaluable contributions to this project in purchased and screened toys. Jack Hanson of selecting and purchasing toys, screening them with HMC Analytical provided technical support on the XRF analyzer, and compiling data. Thanks go to the use of the XRF analyzer. Joshua Schramm the rest of our project team, including Dr. Kimberley designed and produced the report. Craven, Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, Dr. Margaret Shield, and Laurie Valeriano, who helped conceive of the The Washington Toxics Coalition is grateful project and provided ongoing support and advice, for the support of the Beldon Fund, the Bullitt and along with Heather Trim of People for Puget Foundation, the Horizons Foundation, the Sound, reviewed the report. We are grateful to those Johnson Family Fund, the John Merck Fund, Lucy who provided technical support and advice, including Waletzky, the Madrona Foundation, the Russell Dr. Ted Schettler of the Science and Environmental Foundation, the Seattle Foundation, the Seattle Health Network, Rachel Gibson of Environment Biotech Legacy Foundation, and the Tortuga California, Sally Edwards of the Lowell Center for Foundation. Sustainable Production, and Debbie Raphael of the City of San Francisco. Jeff Gearhart and Tracey Washington Toxics Coalition 4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Suite 540 Seattle, WA 9803, (206)632-545 www.watoxics.org Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition www.toxicfreelegacy.org Executive Summary Key Findings 1. Many toys contain phthalates. Laboratory 2007 was the year of the toxic toy, in which major Toys and other children’s products made for 3. Some manufacturers are making testing detected phthalates in 9 of the 20 toys we In many cases, toy companies recalled millions of toys due to the European market today are likely to contain toys without phthalates. A doll submitted for testing. Toys with phthalates included lead contamination. Despite the recalls, testing of alternative plasticizers, as the European Union manufactured by the European toy company phthalates dolls, squeeze toys, animal figurines, a Tinkertoys ,200 toys by the Washington Toxics Coalition, the bans phthalates from most toys and children’s Götz tested free of the chemicals. Products make up component, and a ball. Michigan-based Ecology Center and others in late products. The state of California passed by toy industry giant Mattel, which distributes a large 2007 found that the problem hasn’t been solved: legislation in 2007 with the same restrictions. widely in Europe, also tested free of phthalates. 2. Phthalates are present at high levels proportion more than a third of the toys tested positive for Although Washington state has been a leader in in toys. In many cases, phthalates make up a large of the total lead, and nearly 50% were made of PVC (polyvinyl protecting children’s health from toxic chemicals, 4. Phthalates are a hidden hazard. proportion of the total content of the product: six chloride, also known as vinyl), a plastic associated no restrictions on phthalate use are currently in Parents and consumers don’t have access to content of the of the toys we tested were made of between 28% with the use of toxic additives. The testing also place for products sold in Washington. information on whether toys contain phthalates product: six and 47% phthalates. revealed that toys made of PVC were more likely to because they are not listed on product labels. of the toys We purchased toys at major retailers including contain toxic metals such as lead and cadmium. None of the phthalate-containing toys we tested we tested Target, Fred Meyer, Meijer, and Toys “R” Us, For example: were labeled as such. • A green ball purchased at Toys ‘R’ Us contained were made To learn if PVC toys contain other hidden dangers, drugstores such as Bartell Drugs and Rite Aid, more than 47%. we sent 20 PVC toys to an accredited laboratory to toy stores, and dollar stores. We tested the toys of between • A “rubber ducky” purchased at Fred Meyer test for the plasticizers known as phthalates. Because using an XRF (x-ray fluorescence) analyzer to 28% and 47% contained more than 36%. PVC is by nature a brittle plastic, manufacturers determine whether they were made of PVC. phthalates. • A dinosaur figurine purchased at Wal-Mart add in additional chemicals (known as plasticizers) We selected 20 PVC toys to be tested for contained more than 28%. to make PVC toys pliable. Phthalates are the most phthalates, including toys used by children of commonly added plasticizers today, but have been a range of ages but with a focus on those that under increasing scrutiny because of their potential could be used by small children. harmful health effects, particularly on reproductive development. Recommendations Washington state should pass legislation in 2008 to 3. The state Department of Ecology ensure that toys and other children’s products sold should study whether other chemical in Washington are safe. Legislation should include the hazards can be found in children’s following three elements: products. Ecology should collect information on whether chemicals that may cause learning 1. Washington state should ban phthalates or reproductive problems, cancer, or hormone from toys and other children’s products. disruption are present in children’s products, The European Union and state of California have so that the state can take action to address the already taken action to prevent phthalates from most serious hazards. being used in toys and other items used by children. Washington lawmakers should take action so that our state’s children also have access to safer toys. 2. Manufacturers should provide A dinosaur figurine purchased at information on the toxic chemicals they use in children’s products. Studies such as Wal-Mart contained more than 28% this one provide important information about phthalates. what toxic chemicals are present in toys and other children’s products. Unfortunately, parents and other consumers have no other way to identify which toys are safe for their children. Manufacturers should provide information on the chemical content of toys directly to the state Department of Ecology, which can make it available to consumers. 28.6% phthalates 2 3 exposed to the combination dose were born with phthalates and problems with sperm quality Phthalate syndrome, in the lab 6,7 Phthalates: hypospadias, compared to none or 2% in the single that affect fertility. Laboratory studies and in people dose groups. Testosterone production was also have found that some phthalates can impact Hidden Danger in significantly reduced in the animals exposed to both sperm production: to test whether this holds “Phthalate syndrome” may sound like the name phthalates. true in people, researchers evaluated sperm the Toy Box of a science fiction movie, but it’s actually what quality and measured urinary concentrations of scientists have termed a pattern of reproductive Researchers are now finding that these problems phthalate metabolites, most recently in 379 men. problems that appear after prenatal exposure Phthalates are a widely used family of aren’t limited to the laboratory. In a study looking Associations between exposure to four different to phthalates. Decades of laboratory research plasticizers and fragrance carriers, with at the reproductive health of baby boys with varying phthalates and sperm damage were found at have crystallized the problems. They include global use estimated at more than 3.5 levels of phthalate exposure, Shanna Swan phthalate levels comparable to those in the undescended testes, small or otherwise million metric tons each year.b They are the of the University of Rochester4 found general population today, potentially abnormal testes, and a condition known as most commonly used plasticizer in PVC a link between greater exposure accounting to some degree for 36.3% phthalates hypospadias, in which the urethral opening is on plastic. to several phthalates and altered infertility problems. the underside of the penis instead of the end genital development. Boys exposed — all signs of abnormal development of the Phthalates can be found in PVC wallpaper, to higher levels of phthalates A green ball purchased at Toys ‘R’ Us male reproductive system.8 flooring, shower curtains, raincoats, packaging, before birth had a reduced contained more than 47% phthalates. medical equipment, and toys. Because they are not anogenital distance, an indicator Further studies have begun to elucidate the 47.5% phthalates chemically bound to the PVC, phthalates can leach of feminization; these boys also Other phthalate-related health cause: a number of phthalates, including DEHP, out of products over time and are found in air inside had smaller penis size and a higher concerns include liver and DBP, BBzP, and DINP (see Table 2 for full A Target- buildings as well as in household dust.3,4 Children prevalence of undescended testes. kidney damage as well as chemical names), have been found to reduce 8 brand and adults are exposed to phthalates through air Disturbingly, these effects occurred at asthma . Researchers have found testosterone production by the fetus, which can and dust, with children also being exposed through exposure levels common in U.S. women that children in homes with greater penguin result in off-target reproductive development sucking and chewing on phthalate-containing items today. levels of phthalates are more likely to tested and abnormal genitals. 9,0,,2 Recently, such as toys.5 have asthma and allergic symptoms, with higher at more researchers have turned their attention to a A second study of infants looked at levels of levels of DEHP associated with asthma and BBP growing concern: whether these chemicals 9 than 30% With such broad use in common household products, reproductive hormones in baby boys after birth, levels associated with rhinitis and eczema.