UPDATE-You Better Watch Out: Toxic Toys Found in Westchester

“Toxic Toys in Westchester County,” a report unveiled today, describes the presence of dangerous chemicals like mercury and cadmium in children’s toys and products on the shelves this holiday season.

The toxins have been linked to cancer, cognitive impairments, hyperactivity and genetic disorders in children.

The report is a joint project of Clean and Healthy New York and the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund.

All of the toys and products tested were purchased in Westchester County over the last several weeks.

“This survey report looked for the presence of some of the most hazardous chemicals in products intended to be used by children on a daily basis, and found plenty to be concerned about,” the report’s authors wrote in their Executive Summary.

“Toxic Toys in Westchester County” identified several toxic substances in numerous products:

• Antimony in six products: jewelry, clothing, a doll, a key chain and a toy train.
• Cadmium in eight products: a keychain, jewelry, clothing, toy cars, a toy train and a penlight.
• Cobalt in four products: a keychain, jewelry and accessories.
• Lead in three products: jewelry and accessories.
• Mercury in two products: in a wooden flower necklace and toy cars

Researchers said they visited Target, Party City, Walmart, The Children’s Place, Macy’s, Spencer’s and Lord & Taylor stores in Westchester County in November and December 2014.

“No parent wants to find out that the clothes, jewelry or toys they give their children contain chemicals that could hurt them,” said Bobbi Chase Wilding, Deputy Director for Clean and Healthy New York, who tested the products in the report. “Yet our testing confirms this reality.”

According to the report:

There is a wealth of growing scientific evidence linking chemicals in

commonly-used children’s products to diseases and disorders of environmental

origin. The incidence of these health impacts is on the rise. Children are

uniquely vulnerable because they eat, drink and breathe more — pound for

pound — than adults, put their hands and objects in their mouths more often,

and are undergoing developmental stages that are sensitive to disruption

from environmental chemicals

“It’s horrifying to consider that a well-intended gift might contain secret toxins,” said Marcia Bystryn, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. “Parents deserve the right to know what dangers are lurking in the products they bring home, so they can make informed decisions about their families’ health.”

Wilding and Bystryn stood at a press conference this morning with Westchester County lawmaker Catherine Borgia, the Majority Leader, who said she would soon introduce legislation that would require testing on toys for sale by retailers which may contain certain dangerous chemicals.

Party City, one of the stores named in the “Toxic Toys in Westchester County” report, has responded:

Party City is dedicated to ensuring that all of its supplier’s products meet or exceed federal, state and municipal requirements. To this end, Party City requires testing and compliance of its suppliers’ products by using nationally recognized product testing organizations. Any product that fails to meet governmental or Party City’s standards will not be distributed. For the items allegedly with high levels of certain chemicals, we shall inform the suppliers, investigate the allegations, and take necessary actions.