Harmful chemicals in toys: what to know ahead of the festive season

Here’s a glimpse at the unwanted chemicals found in toys by consumer groups across Europe in 2019:

(*) Our Danish member Forbrugerrådet Tænk found that 9 out of 29 toy products – i.e. nearly one third – contained illegal levels of phthalates. These substances, used to soften plastic, can disrupt the hormone system and harm reproductive health.

(*) In Germany, Stiftung Warentest tested toys for up to 240 substances. The most frequently detected substance, naphthalene was found above the legal limit in 7 out of 23 ‘talking’ dolls, action figures, and soft toys. Naphthalene and its chemical cousins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which were also found in the test, are suspected to cause cancer.

(*) Altroconsumo in Italy found 2 coloured markers out of 18 that were chemically dangerous. One failed to comply with the EU’s Toy Safety Directive since it contained a harmful substance also found in paint thinner or glue. The other contained high levels of highly allergenic substances.

(*) In Denmark, nearly half of tested balloons (7 out of 15) released cancer-causing nitrosamines above the EU legal limit values. Consumers are more commonly exposed to these chemicals through cigarette smoke.

(*) Altroconsumo in Italy found 2 coloured markers out of 18 that were chemically dangerous. One failed to comply with the EU’s Toy Safety Directive since it contained a harmful substance also found in paint thinner or glue. The other contained high levels of highly allergenic substances.

(*) In Denmark, nearly half of tested balloons (7 out of 15) released cancer-causing nitrosamines above the EU legal limit values. Consumers are more commonly exposed to these chemicals through cigarette smoke.

The issue of chemicals in toys is unfortunately nothing new. In the 2019 release of the list of dangerous products that made it to the EU’s recall system, the Safety Gate, toys again made it to the top.

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