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 98103, (206)632-1545 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 1,200 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.1 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

  exposed to the combination dose were born with phthalates and problems with sperm quality Phthalate syndrome, in the lab 16,17 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 Rochester14 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 18 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. 9,10,11,12 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 19 than 30% With such broad use in common household products, reproductive hormones in baby boys after birth, levels associated with rhinitis and eczema. may prove to be more powerful when acting phthalate it’s not surprising that phthalates are widespread in in comparison to their phthalate levels (measured In adult men, phthalate exposure has been in combination. In 2007, U.S. Environmental 20 the environment. Often present in urban stormwater in urine).15 Exposure to several phthalates was correlated with reduced lung capacity. content. Protection Agency and North Carolina State runoff and released in the hundreds of thousands of correlated with decreased hormone production, University researchers published the striking pounds every year from industries, phthalates are an indication that the testes were not functioning results of a trial examining the cumulative effects 6,7 properly. found in groundwater, surface water, and sediment. 13 of two phthalates, DEHP and DBP. In that study, Evidence is also implicating phthalates in the two phthalates together had much greater reproductive problems later in life. A series of studies impact than either alone: 43% of the animals in Massachusetts has explored the link between Phthalate Testing Results

Table 1 Total Total Table 2 Phthalate Phthalate Unid C8 Bis(2-ethylhyxyl) Butyl Benzyl Di-n-butyl Di-n-octyl Diethyl Diisobutyl Diisodecyl Diisononyl Dimethyl Chemical Names and Name of Toy Manufacturer (Brand) Content (%) Content (ppm) Phthalate DEHP BBP DBP DNOP DEP DIBP DIDP DINP DMP Abbreviations Dora Loves Me Doll Mattel (Fisher-Price) ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND Barbie Doll Mattel ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND DEHP = Bis(2-ethylhexyl), Disney Ariel Doll Mattel (Disney Princess) ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND Götz Doll Götz ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND or diethylhexyl phthalate Baby I'm Yours Doll Target 32.5% 325,000 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 35,000 290,000 ND BBP = Butyl Benzyl phthalate Laura Doll NA 5.1% 51,220 ND 51,000 ND 110 ND ND 110 ND ND ND DBP = Di-n-butyl phthalate My Little Pony Hasbro 0.4% 3,800 3,800 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND Squeeze Toy - Pooh Mattel (Fisher-Price) ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND DNOP = Di-n-octyl phthalate Squeeze Toy - Penguin Target 36.3% 363,000 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 13,000 350,000 ND DEP = Diethyl phthalate Squeeze Toy - Whale Geoffrey (Toys R Us) ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND DIBP = Diisobutyl phthalate Squeeze Toy - Pink Duck Wal-Mart 32.1% 321,000 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 21,000 300,000 ND Squeeze Toy - Yellow Duck NA 36.6% 365,600 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 5,600 360,000 ND DIDP = Diisodecyl phthalate Squeeze Toy - Starfish Kmart (Just Kidz) ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND DINP = Diisononyl phthalate Squeeze Toy - Elmo Mattel (Fisher-Price) ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND DMP = Dimethyl phthalate Cake Slice Learning Resources ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND Taco Lakeshore Learning ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND Green Ball Geoffrey (Toys R Us) 47.5% 475,000 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 15,000 460,000 ND Dinosaur Wal-Mart 28.6% 286,000 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 56,000 230,000 ND Tonka Car Hasbro (Playskool) ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND Tinkertoys Tubing Hasbro (Playskool) 20% 200,000 200,000 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND

  Results To determine the extent to which phthalates Phthalates are present Some manufacturers Phthalates are a are still common in children’s toys, we tested 20 easily available PVC toys. Toys were purchased in at high levels in toys. are making toys without hidden hazard. Washington and Michigan at retailers including Fred Meyer, Toys “R” Us, Target, Kmart, Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, Six of the toys we tested had phthalate levels phthalates. No law in Washington requires labeling of the Bartell Drugs, toy stores, and dollar stores. between 28% and 47%: contents of toys and other children’s products. The results of our testing indicate that very high Therefore, parents and consumers don’t have levels of phthalates are still in common use for toys Washington Toxics Coalition staff screened toys • A green ball purchased at Toys “R” Us access to information on whether toys contain on the U.S. market, even as other major markets for the presence of PVC using an XRF analyzer. The contained the highest amount of phthalates, phthalates because they are not listed on have prohibited them. They also indicate, however, analyzer determines whether a plastic is PVC based with more than 47% of the ball made up of product labels. In some cases, manufacturers do that some manufacturers may have phased out on the presence of chlorine (see Appendix I for more phthalates. label their products as PVC or vinyl. None of the their use. We tested five products manufactured by details). phthalate-containing toys we tested, however, • Several squeeze toys, including a rubber Mattel: Barbie, Ariel, and Dora dolls, and Winnie-the- were labeled as having phthalates. Only the doll Pooh and Elmo squeeze toys, none of which tested We selected items to represent several classes ducky purchased at Fred Meyer and a Target- by German toymaker Götz, which has eliminated positive for phthalates. While this is no guarantee of toys, including dolls, figurines, balls, blocks and brand penguin, tested at more than 30% phthalates, was labeled as phthalate-free. that all Mattel products are free of phthalates, it does building toys, squeeze toys, vehicles, and play food. phthalate content. indicate that at least for these popular products, Nearly all of the toys are designed to be used by a major manufacturer has found an alternative young children, including those under three. We sent • A Target-brand “Baby I’m Yours” doll plasticizer that will allow the sale of its products in the toys to a laboratory in Chicago, STAT Analysis. contained more than 30% total phthalates. Europe Gets the Phthalate-free Europe as well as the U.S. The laboratory tested for 17 phthalates using Ball Rolling gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (detailed • A dinosaur figurine purchased at Wal-Mart A number of European toy companies have stated methods can be found in Appendix I). contained more than 28% total phthalates. that they have phased out the use of phthalates for The European Union has a relatively long all products in order to comply with the European history of concern about phthalates. In 1999, Our findings are as follows: A dollar-store fashion doll also tested positive it banned six phthalates in toys and other for phthalates. Union restrictions. We tested a doll manufactured by one of those companies, Götz, and found it to be childcare articles intended for children free of phthalates. under three. In 2005, after extensive study, Many toys contain My Little Pony and a component of Tinkertoys, the European Commission voted to extend two well-known toys manufactured by Hasbro, Other toys that tested free of phthalates include a the ban to all toys and childcare articles for phthalates. tested positive for an octyl phthalate that the three phthalates. laboratory’s assay is not calibrated to identify. Tonka car (a Playskool/Hasbro product), a Kmart- The laboratory analysis detected phthalates in 9 of brand squeeze toy, and two play-food items from This phthalate is not one restricted in Europe or California became the first state in the the 20 toys, including dolls, figurines, a ball, squeeze Learning Resources and Lakeshore Learning. California. nation to follow suit in 2007, passing toys, and a building toy. Five different phthalates legislation to end the use of the same six were found, including DEHP, DBP, DIDP, DINP, and A number of retailers are also taking action to Six of the toys we tested—two dolls, a dinosaur, phthalates in toys and other children’s an unidentified octyl phthalate, with DINP and DIDP reduce phthalates in their products, in many cases and three squeeze toys—would not be allowed products. most commonly identified (see Table 1). for sale in the European Union because of by phasing out PVC. By eliminating PVC, they are their phthalate content. In Europe, no toys or also addressing other hazards created during its other child-care items may contain any of three production, use, and disposal, as well as avoiding the phthalates, DEHP, DBP, and BBP; three additional other chemical additives in PVC plastic. Target, for phthalates, DINP, DNOP, and DIDP, are banned example, aims to eliminate phthalates from Target- from toys and child-care items that may be brand toys by Fall of 2008, and its bibs are already placed in a child’s mouth. California has passed PVC-free. Wal-Mart has stopped selling PVC bibs and an identical ban that will go into effect in January lunchboxes. 2009.

32.5% phthalates A Target-brand “Baby I’m Yours” A rubber ducky purchased at Fred doll contained more than 30% total Meyer tested at more than 30% phthalates. phthalate content. 36.6% phthalates

  Appendix I: Methods References Toy selection and screening 1 www.Healthytoys.org. Published by the Ecology Center and the Washington Toxics Coalition. Solutions Toys were selected to include toys used by children of both 2 Bornehag C-G et al. 2004. The association between asthma and allergic genders and a variety of ages, focusing on young children. Toys were Phthalates are clearly a problem beyond Washington’s What Else is in the Toy Box? symptoms in children and phthalates in house dust: a nested case-control study. purchased at major retailers including Target, Meijer, Wal-Mart, Environmental Health Perspectives 112(14):1393-1397. borders, but action at the federal level to put U.S. Kmart, Toys “R” Us, drug stores including Bartell Drugs and Rite Aid, safety standards on par with Europe is regrettably Right now, no one knows the content of toy stores, and dollar stores. Purchase locations included Seattle, 3 ATSDR 2002. Toxicological Profile for Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate. Accessed far from imminent. Washington state, on the other most toys on store shelves unless they’ve Washington, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. February 2008 at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp9.html#bookmark09. hand, has a strong history of leadership on important manufactured them or conducted testing environmental health issues, from establishing such as in this study. What’s more, federal law Products were screened using a handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) 4 Rudel RA et al. 2003. Phthalates, alkylphenols, pesticides, polybrominated analyzer manufactured by Innov-X Systems. The XRF analyzer uses diphenyl ethers, and other endocrine-disrupting compounds in indoor air and the nation’s first program to address persistent has almost no restrictions on what chemicals dust. Environmental Science & Technology 37(20):4543-4553. bioaccumulative toxics to passing legislation can go into children’s products, regardless of a technology known as x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry to restricting mercury and toxic flame retardants. toxicity. The Children’s Safe Products Act would detect certain chemical elements such as lead, cadmium, chlorine, 5 Brandon EFA, AG Oomen, CJM Rompelberg et al. 2006. Consumer product bromine, tin, and antimony. The analyzer reports the presence of start Washington down a path to address this in vitro digestion model: bioaccessibility of contaminants and its application to PVC plastic based on detection of chlorine. risk assessment. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 44:161-171. Representative Mary Lou Dickerson and Senator problem. To learn what hidden hazards might Debbie Regala introduced the Children’s Safe remain in toys, it would require manufacturers Before testing, calibration was assessed using a known standard. 6 See reference #3. Products Act in January 2008 to put Washington on of toys either produced or sold in Washington Three calibration tests of 120 seconds were conducted and the a path to becoming a leader in ensuring safety of to report on chemicals in their products that results compared with the known levels. In all cases, results were 7 Jobling S, Reynolds T, White R, Parker MG and JP Sumpter. 1995. A variety of environmentally persistent chemicals, including some phthalate plasticizers, are within 25% of the known levels. Items were tested in one to several toys and other children’s products. The legislation has may cause learning or reproductive problems, weakly estrogenic. Environmental Health Perspectives 103: 582-587. three primary elements: immediate action on three cancer, or hormone disruption. Armed with this locations. Standard testing time was 30 seconds. established hazards, study to determine what hazards information, our state will be able to take action 8 Gray E et al. 2000. Phthalates and male sexual differentiation. Toxicological might remain, and informing parents and consumers. in the future to ensure products sold in this Laboratory analysis Sciences 58:350-365. state are free of toxic chemicals. After screening a larger number of toys for the presence of PVC, 9 Lehmann KP, Phillips S, Sar M, Foster PM, and KW Gaido. 2004. Dose- Washington Action to Get Phthalates we chose for further testing 20 toys to represent several classes of dependent alterations in gene expression and testosterone synthesis in Informing Parents and Consumers toys, including dolls, figurines, balls, blocks and building toys, squeeze the fetal testes of male rats exposed to di (n-butyl) phthalate. Toxicological Out of Toys Sciences 81:60-68. toys, vehicles, and play food. These toys were sent to STAT Analysis in The Children’s Safe Products Act would take Parents and others deserve information on Chicago for laboratory analysis. 10 Parks, LG et al. 2000. The plasticizer diethylhexyl phthalate induces immediate action to ban lead, cadmium, and the contents of toys and other products they malformations by decreasing fetal testosterone synthesis during sexual Laboratory analysis involved the following procedure: differentiation in the male rat. Toxicological Sciences 58:339-349. phthalates from toys and other children’s products. buy for children. Under the Children’s Safe Products Act, the Department of Ecology would Like the European Union and California laws, it bans The samples were prepared for analysis by gas chromatography/mass 11 Mylchreest E, Sar M, Wallace DG, and PM Foster. 2002. Fetal testosterone six phthalates from use in toys and other children’s make public information collected on the toxic spectrometry (GC/MS) by solvent extraction. insufficiency and abnormal proliferation of Leydig cells and gonocytes in rats products: DEHP, DEP, DBP, BBP, DINP, and DNOP. The chemicals present in children’s products. Parents exposed to di(n-butyl) phthalate. Reproductive Toxicology 16:19–28. and others would then be able to make smart The extraction was introduced into the GC/MS by injecting the Washington State Department of Ecology would be 12 Marsee K, Woodruff TJ, Axelrad DA, Calafat AM, and SH Swan. Estimated daily responsible for enforcement, ensuring that products choices for safer products. sample extract into a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with phthalate exposure in a population of mothers of male infants exhibiting manufactured or sold in Washington are free of a narrow-bore fused-silica capillary column. The GC column is reduced anogenital distance. Environmental Health Perspectives 114(6):805- phthalates. temperature-programmed to separate the analytes, which are then 809. The Washington Toxics Coalition and detected with a mass spectrometer (MS) connected to the gas 13 Howdeshell, KL et al. 2007. Cumulative effects of dibutyl phthalate and the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition call on chromatograph. Analytes eluted from the capillary column were introduced into the mass spectrometer via a jet separator or a direct diethyhexyl phthalate on male rat reproductive tract development: altered fetal the Washington State Legislature to connection. Identification of target analytes was accomplished by steroid hormones and genes. Toxicological Sciences 99(1):190-202. pass the Children’s Safe Products Act comparing their mass spectra with the electron impact (or electron in 2008. 14 Swan SH et al. Decrease in anogenital distance among male infants with impact-like) spectra of authentic standards. Quantitation was prenatal phthalate exposure. Environmental Health Perspectives 113(8):1056- accomplished by comparing the response of a major (quantitation) 1061. ion relative to an internal standard using a five-point calibration curve. 15 Main, KM. 2006. Human breast milk contamination with phthalates and alterations of endogenous reproductive hormones in infants three months of Detection limits for phthalate esters ranged from 92 to 9800 ppm. age. Environmental Health Perspectives 114(2)270-276.

16 Duty SM, Singh NP, Silva MJ et al. 2005. The relationship between environmental exposures to phthalates and DNA damage in human sperm using the neutral comet assay. Environmental Health Perspectives 111(9):1164- 1169.

17 Hauser, R et al. 2007. DNA Damage in human sperm is related to urinary levels of phthalate monoester and oxidative metabolites. Human Reproduction 22(3):688-695.

18 See reference #3.

19 See reference #2.

20 Hoppin J, R Ulmer, and S London. 2004. Phthalate exposure and pulmonary function. Environmental Health Perspectives 112(5):571-574.  4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Suite 540 Seattle, WA 98103 ph(206) 632-1545 fax (206) 632-8661

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