The environmental and consumer group U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups, has published its 26th annual survey of toy safety. In addition to safety concerns about choking and loud noise, U.S. PIRG found very excessive levels of lead and phthalates in  a few toys being sold in U.S. stores. The presence of both substances is regulated by U.S. law because of concerns over their health impacts.

Government agencies cannot possibly monitor the presence of these additives in all toys being imported into North America. The fact that an environmental group is still finding them in toys suggests that the manufacturing industry in Asia and North American importers are still not doing enough to ensure that these substances are not present in the resins used for these toys. To avoid damage to a retailer or brand’s reputation, GallonDaily recommends that importers and retailers take additional steps to ensure that these additives are present at no more than trace levels in imported plastic goods, especially toys.

The report can be found at https://www.uspirg.org/home/reports/report-archives/product-safety/product-safety-reports/trouble-in-toyland-the-26th-annual-survey-of-toy-safety