Slime, Balloons Top Dangerous Toys List For 2018

SALEM, MA -- A toy "slime" with boron levels 15 times higher than standards set by the European Union, along with inadequate choking hazard warnings on balloons sold by Amazon, topped the list of the moot dangerous toys this holiday season from U.S. PIRG. The list was distributed Tuesday by Salem-based MASSPIRG Education fund.

"No one should worry about whether the toy they’re buying is toxic or dangerous," said Samantha Giffen, Campaign Associate for MASSPIRG Education Fund. "But in 2018, we’re still finding hazards in some of the most popular toys. Toy manufacturers must do better to ensure their products are safe before they end up in children’s hands and mouths."

It's the 33rd year MASSPIRG has issued the warnings ahead of the holiday season. The report also cautions parents against a robot toy and a tablet that could pose privacy concerns when connected to WiFi networks.

The high boron levels were found in a number of slime toys that are popular this holiday season. Boron, a chemical element, can cause nausea, vomiting, long-term reproductive health issues and, in higher doses, death.

U.S. PIRG found no choking hazard warnings on 87 percent of the latex balloons marketed to parents under the age of two on Amazon's Website. Balloons are among the leading causes of suffocation death among children.

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Photo of Samantha Giffen, Campaign Associate for MASSPIRG Education Fund and state Rep. Paul Tucker by MASSPIRG.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).