Danish EPA Finds Hazardous Chemicals in Toys

This article is published by ChemicalWatch on Dec. 10, 2019. Read the original article here.

A Danish EPA investigation has detected phthalates in four toys, from a sample of 18 purchased from online stores.

National toys trade association, LEG, bought the plastic and slime-like toys, and after a preliminary test sent them to the EPA for further risk assessment.

The agency found that the phthalate content was at levels that can pose a serious health risk to young children up to three years with prolonged exposure.

The fifth toy – a slime-like product – contained boron and was deemed to pose a serious health risk to children through long-term effects. Boron is used as a preservative and gives slime a gelatinous texture. It is classified as an SVHC for its reprotoxic qualities.

The EPA added that for all five products no acute risk exists after handling them.

However, it has asked the online retailers to recall them.

The agency also notified the EU's Safety Gate rapid alert system for dangerous products (Rapex) that the products may pose a risk to children.

Member states have been ramping up controls of harmful chemicals in toys. A joint Nordic country investigation between 2017 and 2019 found hazardous substances in dozens of the items.

And in August, Denmark's environment minister said she is preparing to propose a declaration on hazardous chemicals in toys in the EU toy safety Directive. It came after the Danish EPA found serious violations during two other inspections on slime toys.

Alternatives Assessment & Substitution, Children's Products, Denmark, Enforcement, Europe

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