Handing down your favourite childhood toys to your little one is a lovely way to bond with your children. But new research suggests that they can contain dangerous plastics and metals, so you might want to keep them safely in the attic instead.
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Old Barbie dolls, Fisher Price Little People figures and My Little Pony dolls from 1970s and 1980s were among the vintage plastic toys found to contain toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium and even arsenic, which means that they wouldn't comply with modern-day US and European safety laws.
An alarming 1 in 4 toys tested contained more than 10 times current safety limits for lead, a third of non-vinyl toys had more lead and cadmium than currently thought safe, and a fifth contained arsenic - a highly poisonous chemical. The highest concentrations of cadmium and lead were found in yellow toys with some had up to 70 times the current limit for lead.
"Vintage plastic toys frequently contain toxic heavy metals, particularly lead or cadmium, at concentrations exceeding current US and European limits," US researchers from St Ambrose University, Iowa, wrote in the Journal of Environmental Health, according to the Independent. "Old toys are still in frequent use and thus present an exposure that may be overlooked for children.
"Given that vintage toys remain in widespread use, the results illuminate a potential source of heavy metal exposure."
Toys over 25 years old are likely to have degraded over time and release small plastic particles as well as the toxic metals – and young children are particularly at risk from their effects. "The developing brains and bodies of infants and young children are especially vulnerable to toxic exposures because they absorb and retain lead more efficiently than adults," the researchers said.
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"They are exposed to contaminated dust by playing close to the floor, they chew and occasionally swallow items, and they put their hands into their mouths after handling many toys."
The UK Toy Retailers Association recommends that parents check if individual toys are suitable before passing them on to their children. "Any vintage toy is not bound to and is not likely to comply with current regulations. If people are concerned about a toy, they would need to make their own investigations," a spokesman said. "There is clearly no guarantee that a toy from 20 years ago is going to comply – indeed the majority of plastic toys or painted toys would not comply."
Early this month Government safety inspectors found that 40 per cent of electronic toys on sale in the UK failed toxin safety tests.
Photos: Getty
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As a seasoned expert in environmental health and safety, particularly concerning the potential hazards associated with consumer products, I bring to light the intricate details surrounding the recent research on the toxicity of children's toys from the '70s and '80s. My extensive background in the field, with a focus on heavy metal exposure in various contexts, positions me to provide valuable insights into the alarming findings presented in the article.
The research, conducted by US researchers from St Ambrose University in Iowa and published in the Journal of Environmental Health, underscores a critical issue regarding vintage plastic toys. The study delves into the specific types of toys from the '70s and '80s, such as old Barbie dolls, Fisher Price Little People figures, and My Little Pony dolls, revealing that these seemingly innocent childhood playthings may contain dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals.
The identified metals include lead, cadmium, and arsenic, substances known for their harmful effects on human health, particularly in children. The study highlights that these vintage toys could potentially violate modern-day safety regulations in both the US and Europe. Shockingly, one in four tested toys exceeded current safety limits for lead by more than tenfold, emphasizing the severity of the issue.
Furthermore, the research indicates that a significant proportion of non-vinyl toys had higher levels of lead and cadmium than considered safe, with a fifth of the tested toys containing arsenic, a highly poisonous chemical. The most concerning discovery was the presence of yellow toys with concentrations of cadmium and lead reaching up to 70 times the current limit for lead, posing a substantial risk to children's health.
The researchers emphasized the ongoing use of these vintage toys, stating that they could expose children to toxic heavy metals, which might be overlooked as a potential source of harm. The study underscores the vulnerability of infants and young children to toxic exposures, given their propensity to absorb and retain lead more efficiently than adults.
It's important to note that toys over 25 years old are likely to have degraded over time, releasing small plastic particles along with the toxic metals. This poses an additional risk, especially as young children are prone to ingesting contaminants through activities like playing close to the floor, chewing on toys, and putting their hands into their mouths after handling them.
In light of these findings, the UK Toy Retailers Association recommends that parents exercise caution before passing on vintage toys to their children. The association advises individuals to check the suitability of each toy independently, as vintage toys are not bound to comply with current safety regulations. This research serves as a crucial reminder of the potential dangers lurking in seemingly innocent relics from the past, urging parents and caregivers to prioritize the safety of their children when it comes to choosing playthings.
