Parents beware. The popular toy, the “CSI” fingerprinting kits, marketed alongside CBS’ popular television series, was pulled from shelves last year after accusations of asbestos contamination. Planet Toys, Inc, the company that manufactured the toy, has stated that multiple tests have shown no signs of the carcinogen, but pulled the toys following a lawsuit by the nonprofit Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

If you have purchased this toy, you have until March 30th to file as part of the class action lawsuit. In response to the lawsuit and other financial difficulties associated with the recall, the company is filing forChapter 7 bankruptcy.

A link to the Reuters article, which includes case numbers for the lawsuit, can be found here.

Widespread toy recalls last year have made many parents particularly vigilant about ensuring their kids are not exposed to items that contain toxic substances, including mercury and heavy metals. Although Congress passed a law to ban most dangerous substances, many of its measures don’t take effect until next year.

Nearly one-third of the popular toys tested contain medium to high levels of lead, cadmium, mercury or other potentially dangerous chemicals, according to the Michigan-based Ecology Center.  Toy jewelry figures prominently on the “Worst Toys List.”

To read the full story, visit StarTribune.com.

SafeMama has put together an awesome Safer Toy Guide for this holiday season, so that we can shop with confidence, even after last year’s “Year of the Recall”.  This guide will help you choose gifts for little children that are safe and fun.  She went with the “pretend play” theme to encourage imagination, and there are even a few picks from eco-friendly shops.

Look for coupon codes at the bottom of the guide, which will be updated regularly so you get the best deals.  Here are a few of the items from the shopping guide:

Babies

Knitted Veggie Rattles, $10

Solid Red Goose, $29.99

Toddlers

Automoblox Minis, $28

Clementine Organic Play Dough, $38

Preschoolers

Breakfast Menu, $18.99

Discover Rig Vehicle, $67

Big Kids

Daisy Market, $80.99

Wooden Cash Register, $22

I just found out that there’s a bill in the House that would ban the use of BPA in food and drink containers and children’s products. The bill was introduced yesterday by Edward Markey (D-MA), who had this to say:

“From baby bottles to cans of chicken soup, BPA is present throughout American life. But concerns about the effects of BPA on human health have been mounting, and we’ve reached a point where the risk is simply too high.”

Several scientists spoke in support of Markey’s legislation. Here are two of their statements:

“The possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development can not be dismissed,” Bucher said during his testimony before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.” -John Burcher, Associate Director of the National Toxicology Program

“Policy-makers need to decide when evidence is sufficient to act even in the face of scientific uncertainty. Otherwise, we miss the opportunities for primary prevention of avoidable disease and disability.” -Ted Schettler, Science Director for the Science & Environmental Health Network.

The bill will be discussed further before it gets voted on. I’ll keep everyone posted as this progresses!

Disney has just issued recalls on two toys sold in their Disney stores across the country.

The pearl beads on this Tinkerbell wand are coated in paint which contains an unacceptably high amount of lead paint. The wands have a green handle which lights up and plays sound at the press of a button. They were sold nationwide at Disney stores from April 2007 through October 2007 for about $13, and about 8,000 of them are being included in the recall.

Also being recalled are about 4,100 Pirates of the Carribbean sleeping bags, which have zipper pulls coated in paint that violates lead standards. The sleeping bags feature cartoon images of Davy Jones and Jack Sparrow on the front, and were also on Disney store shelves from April 2007 to October 2007. They retailed for around $25.

Anyone who has purchased either of these toys is being instructed to take them away from children immediately and return them to the Disney Store for a full refund. More information can be obtained by calling Disney toll-free at 1-866-902-2798.

Here’s MY question: if these toys have been off the shelves for seven months, why are we JUST NOW figuring out that they’re potentially dangerous for kids? Do they not test this paint BEFORE it goes onto the toys?

Seriously, there’s no excuse for this stuff!

[\rant]

Throughout the last couple of posts, I’ve been covering the topic of BPA and phthalates in childrens’ toys. Last week, I asked parents to tell me their thoughts on the issue- what they thought of the study results, and how it has (or hasn’t) had an effect on their purchasing decisions.

I got several e-mails on the subject, but I think these three pretty much sum up all of the opinions on both sides of the spectrum:

continue reading "BPA and Phthalates: Parents speak out"

Throughout my series on BPA and phthalates, we’ve learned what the chemicals are, what doctors say about their potential harm, and what the government has done in light of the concerns raised by the recent studies. This has caused a huge divide to form between environmentalists and the toy industry, each of whom has very strong opinions on the new legislation.

The toy industry, not surprisingly, is not pleased with the new regulations.

continue reading "BPA and Phthalates: The Toy Industry vs. Environmentalists"

As we saw in last Friday’s post, BPA and phthalates have both caused some concern in the medical community, due to the potential effects they could have on the human body. In response to this evidence, many government agencies have taken action in an attempt to keep these chemicals out of products that could expose small children to their associated health risks.

In July of 2005, the European Union banned six different phthalates from use in toys and childcare items. The EU had already had temporary, renewable restrictions of these phthalates in place since 1999.

Last October, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill to enact a similar law in the Golden State. The California law bans the manufacture, sale, or distribution of any toys containing phthalates in the state starting in January of 2009. Toy companies in the area have just over seven months remaining to phase these toys out before the ban takes effect.

continue reading "BPA and Phthalates: Legislation"

Bishphenol-A.

Phthalates.

No, I’m not talking about new Star Trek characters. (Although, if I was, would anyone be surprised? Probably not.)

These are the names of two chemicals commonly found in plastic, and they have been causing quite a buzz in several communities. Environmentalists, toy manufacturers, doctors, the media, and even the government have all been talking about them lately. In light of all that’s being said, it can be hard for parents to decide how they feel about it all. So, for the next few days, I’m going to talk about this issue. I’m going to objectively present the facts from all sides of the debate, and allow you to decide how, if at all, it will affect your choices in choosing toys for your kids.

First of all, let’s talk about exactly what these chemicals are, and what they do.

Bisphenol-A (abbreviated BPA) is an organic compound made of a specific grouping of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms. Common uses for BPA include baby and water bottles, tooth sealants, sports equipment, medical devices, CDs, and household electronics, as well as the resin coating that lines the insides of many different canned foods. It has also been used as a flame-retardant material and fungicide.

Phthalates (pronounced “THAL-ates”) are a derivative of phthalic acid and are commonly used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics more flexible.

Both of these chemicals are fairly common in childrens’ toys.

In my next entry, I plan to explore what the medical community says about the potential effects and hazards of these chemicals on the human body. Stay tuned!