As a parent you probably worry about your child choking on or getting a hand or appendage stuck in a toy. You may worry about a sharp object or other issues with children’s toys that could cause accident harm or injury. However, I doubt you do much worrying about your children being exposed to toxic chemicals found in their toys.
According to a study done conducted by the Environmental Health Strategy Center in Maine, your children’s toys may contain the toxic chemical BPA. Thousands of toys were tested and reports indicate that literally hundreds were found to include this toxic chemical that may affect brain development, reproductive organs and behavior with long term exposure. Among the “infected” toys are 650 popular toy brands such as Playmobil, Gerber, LeapFrog, Chicco and SpyNet.
Gerber, Enfamil and Similac were also sited in the study as companies that may have included BPA in the containers that they use to distribute baby food and formula. These three companies have promised to stop using this product in the linings of their containers.
Legislation
Today, Tuesday December 13 Michigan senator Rebekah Warren plans on introducing a bill that will give Michigan families better access to information about their children’s toys.
This bill, appropriately named “The Safe Children’s Act” will require the state to compile a list of chemicals found in all types of children’s products that could be harmful to the children’s health. It would also require toy companies to complete a similar list of any toxic ingredients found in their products.
Even though companies have said they will stop the usage of these harmful chemicals, other chemicals, such as lead are found in toys and parents should always be aware of what their child may be sucking on. We encourage you to take a look at the entire report found at www.healthystuff.org