by Julie Rae
www.toys-to-you.co.uk
Former movie star and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has imposed a ban on toys and kids products that contain more than a trace amount of phthalates.
The ban, which will come into force in 2009, makes California the first US state to move against the plastic softening chemicals. Phthalates are “widely used in baby bottles, soft baby books, teething rings, plastic bath ducks and other toys”, claimed the bill’s author, democrat Assemblywoman Fiona Ma of San Francisco.
Greenpeace research has shown that plasticisers and stabilisers, such as phthalates, added to PVC pose unnecessary health risks to children.
Research has also shown that phthlates can cause liver damage, birth defects and damage to the reproductive system at low exposure levels. Phthalates bio-accumulate and have been found in body tissue and breast milk.
In 2006 Greenpeace warned: “Remember, these are chemicals which do not easily biodegrade and can be dangerous - even in small amounts.”
However, the Phthalates Information Centre Europe disagreed, citing “EU Risk Assessments” of five commonly-used phthalates which noted that diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) show “no risks to human health or the environment for any current use”.
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), though, did demonstrate “some potential risk to plants in the vicinity of processing sites and possibly to workers through inhalation”, while the risk assessments for butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP) and DEHP remained open as “scientific data is still being considered”.
But after more than five years of debate the EU has banned three phthalates in all toys and childcare articles, while another three were banned from use in toys intended for children under three. Two are still legally able to be used.
In April 2006 an EU Risk Assessment for DINP and DIDP report said that the failure to ban all phthalates by the EU “added weight to industry suspicions that environmental pressure groups have for political reasons exaggerated the risks posed by phthalates”.
Whatever the actual risk posed by phthalates, thanks to Arnie the campaign to see the back of them is evidently gaining momentum.
Until we know for sure the danger posed by these plastic softening chemicals the safest alternative is to avoid all PVC toys, buying eco friendly, green toys and games provides the peace of mind that children are not being exposed to these harmful chemicals at a vulnerable age.
There are many suppliers of green toys made from natural, child friendly materials, these include wooden toys from sustainable forests, organic cotton toys and recycled paper toys.
Often made by small businesses, eco friendly toys are an excellent way to support traditional crafts, protect the environmenta and of course, protect your child from exposure to harmful chemicals.