Toxic Tidings:

Chemicals of Concern in Childrens Products

December 2014

Executive Summary
Childrens products containing toxic chemicals are for sale across New York City. The
chemicals in these toys present a real, dangerous, and avoidable risk to the health and
development of children. The result of exposure to these chemicals may include behavioral
problems, learning disorders, lower IQs and damage to vital organ systems.
This survey reports the presence of some of the most dangerous and toxic chemicals in toys and
products intended for use by children. Most of the products were purchased in the Bronx but may
be found across all the boroughs of New York City. The toxicity of these products can not be
identified from their packaging. All of the toxic toys surveyed are sitting right next to safe toys
on store shelves. The toys surveyed come from Claires, the Icing, 99-cents stores, and other
discount toy retailers. The toys, clothing and gift items contained antimony, arsenic, cadmium,
cobalt, and lead which are slated to be banned under the proposed Child Safe Products Act which
is before the Senate and the Assembly.
The gifts were tested using an X-Ray Fluorescence Analyzer (XRF Analyzer). Products
presented in this report were tested and found to contain one or more of these toxic chemicals.
Not all of the toys tested contained these chemicals. These are simply the products that did
contain toxic chemicals.

Testing the toys resulted in:

Antimony in three pairs of earrings from the Icing, a Hello Kitty charm bracelet and a toy
truck.
Arsenic in several pairs of earrings from the Icing.
Cadmium in Gerber onesies, several Hello Kitty rings, and two pencil cases, including
one featuring Dora the Explorer.
Cobalt in Spongebob Squarepants childrens briefs, Gerber onsesies, Hello Kitty rings,
earrings from the Icing, race cars, Hello Kitty charm bracelets, a toy whale, and a
Spiderman puzzle.
Lead in police action figures, earrings from the Icing, race cars, a Spongebob Squarepants
pencil case, and a toy whale.

The science is clear that exposure to toxic chemicals like those found in childrens products has a
direct causal link to the development of diseases and disorders in children. The chemicals in this
report are heavy metals, which can accumulate in the body, adding each dose on top of the
previous one. The exposure to these chemicals, particularly in childrens products, is entirely
preventable. The Independent Democratic Conference urges the legislature to pass and the
Governor to sign into law the Child Safe Products Act.

Introduction

In New York State, toxic chemicals can be found on store shelves across the state, hidden among
non-toxic toys and other products aimed at children. Even the most discerning of customers
would be unable to tell which products contained toxic chemicals and which products are toxinfree. Examining the packaging, visiting a manufacturers or retailers website would not reveal
which toys contained toxic chemicals. Simply put there is no way for consumers to know which
toys are putting the health and well being of their children at risk.
Since parents are unable to tell which products have toxic chemicals, children across the state are
unknowingly exposed to hazardous chemicals. As the science has demonstrated, children are
particularly susceptible to toxic chemicals.1 The increased susceptibility is due in large part to
childrens activity through play and learning. Children have greater rates of absorption than
adults, and are undergoing rapid development, putting them at a higher risk for developing
diseases and disorders from toxic chemicals.
The most common toxic chemicals found in the survey of childrens products include: antimony,
arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, and lead. These chemicals have been known to cause autism,
behavioral, problems, cancer, early onset puberty, learning disorders, lower IQs, neurological
damage (memory and language impairment, attention deficits), osteoporosis, respiratory
conditions, and type 2 diabetes.
This report contains a catalogue of childrens products that were found to contain toxic
chemicals. Not all of the products on the store shelves contain toxic chemicals. This report only
includes the products that contain toxic chemicals.
These results indicate that children across the New York City are needlessly exposed to toxic
chemicals that threaten their development and wellbeing.
Despite voluntary efforts by retailers to remove toxic chemicals from their shelves, toxic toys are
still being sold in stores across New York. In order to remedy this problem, the Independent
Democratic Conference urges the legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign into law, the Child
Safe Products Act. The Child Safe Products Act is co-sponsored in the Senate by 40 senators
including all members of the Independent Democratic Conference (Senators Klein, Avella,
Carlucci, Savino, and Valesky). With over 40 co-sponsors in the Senate, the bill has vast and bipartisan support. The bill has passed the Assembly three years running with broad bipartisan
support.
The Child Safe Products Act would require disclosure of toxic chemicals in children's products
and phase out those chemicals most threatening to children's health. Included within the list of
priority chemicals to be phased out, are antimony, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, lead, and mercury
which were found in the Independent Democratic Conferences survey of toxic toys and
childrens products. Passing the Child Safe Products Act will protect New Yorks children from
toxic chemicals and improve their health.
The Chemicals
1

"Principles of Pediatric Environmental Health." The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Accessed
December 15, 2014. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=27&po=3.

It has been well documented that toxic chemicals pose a serious threat to the health and
development of children. Childrens susceptibility is due in large part to their physical size,
behavior, metabolic capabilities, and developing body systems.2 In particular children
proportionally consume more food, drink more water, and breathe more air than adults which
leads to greater absorption of environmentally borne toxic chemicals like those found in unsafe
toys and childrens products. 3 Behaviors such as learning to crawl, walk, and play, and general
hand-to-mouth behavior increase a childs consumption of chemicals present in the environment.
As children learn to play, they often put toys and other products in their mouths. This is a
common method of exposure to toxic chemicals.4 Additionally, because of their immature
metabolism, children are unable to successfully break down toxic chemicals and excrete them
from the body. Instead, the chemicals remain in their bodies and accumulate to potentially
hazardous levels.5 Lastly, children go through rapid growth and development during the first few
years of life and during puberty. During this period, many body systems undergo crucial and
complex development. These processes can easily be disrupted by the presence of toxic
chemicals.6
Since children have a greater susceptibility to dangerous chemicals, they are more likely to have
adverse consequences as a result of that exposure. Based on the chemicals found in the toys
surveyed, children exposed to those chemicals are more likely to exhibit autism, behavioral,
problems, cancer, early onset puberty, learning disorders, lower IQs, neurological damage
(memory and language impairment, attention deficits), osteoporosis, respiratory conditions, and
type 2 diabetes.
The chemicals listed below were found to be present in the toys surveyed. Included are their
common industrial uses along with the resulting diseases and disorders in children and adults
exposed to those hazardous chemicals.

Antimony is used in the storage of batteries, solder, sheet and pipe, bearing metals,
casting, and fire retardants for plastics, textiles, rubber, adhesives, pigments, and paper.7
Exposure to antimony in childhood can lead to autism and respiratory ailments.8
Arsenic is used in the preservation of wood, creation of glass, the construction of semiconductors, and rodenticides.9 Exposure to unsafe levels of arsenic can lead to lower
IQs, type-2 diabetes, and respiratory diseases.10

"Principles of Pediatric Environmental Health." The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Accessed
December 15, 2014. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=27&po=3.
3
Washington Department of Health. "Protect Kids from Toxic Chemicals." Protect Kids from Toxic Chemicals.
Accessed December 15, 2014.
http://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/InfantsChildrenandTeens/ProtectKidsfromToxicChemicals.
4
Childrens Environmental Health Center. "New York States Children and the Environment." 2013.
5
Childrens Environmental Health Center. "New York States Children and the Environment." 2013.
6
Childrens Environmental Health Center. "New York States Children and the Environment." 2013.
7
Environmental Protection Agency. "Antimony Compounds." EPA. January 1, 2000. Accessed December 15, 2014.
http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/antimony.html.
.8 Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. "Public Health Statement: Antimony." December 1, 1992.
Accessed December 15, 2014. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp23-c1-b.pdf. Environmental Protection
Agency. "Antimony Compounds." EPA. January 1, 2000. Accessed December 15, 2014.
http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/antimony.html

Cadmium is used to manufacture pigments, batteries, metal-plating and plastics and the
protection of critical components of airplanes and oil platforms.11 Exposure to cadmium
can result in early onset puberty, behavioral problems, kidney damage and early forms of
osteoporosis.12
Cobalt is used for used for high-speed, heavy-duty, high temperature cutting tools, dyes,
magnetic steels, stainless steels, and in alloys used in jet turbines and gas turbine
generators. The metal is used in electroplating because of its appearance, hardness, and
resistance to oxidation.13 Children exposed to unsafe levels of cobalt may exhibit
cognitive impairments, developmental disorders, and respiratory conditions.14
Lead is used in the production car batteries, pigments, ammunition, cable sheathing,
weights for lifting, weight belts for diving, lead crystal glass, radiation protection and in
some solders.15 Even when exposed to small amounts of lead levels, children may appear
inattentive, hyperactive and irritable. Children with greater lead levels may also have
problems with learning and reading, delayed growth and hearing loss. At high levels, lead
can cause permanent brain damage. 16
Mercury17 is used in thermometers, barometers, and pressure-sensing devices. It is also
used in batteries, lamps, industrial processes, refining, and lubrication oils.18 Exposure to
mercury can result in renal problems and neurological damage resulting in memory,
attention, and language deficiencies.19

Royal Society of Chemistry. "Arsenic." Arsenic - Element Information, Properties and Uses. Accessed December
15, 2014. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/33/arsenic.
10
Maryland Department of the Environment. "Health Information about Arsenic." April 1, 2007. Accessed
December 15, 2014. http://www.mde.maryland.gov/assets/document/Factsheets/Arsenic_Health_Info.pdf.
"Arsenic." Wisconsin Department of Health Services. August 28, 2014. Accessed December 15, 2014.
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/chemfs/fs/arsenic.htm.
11
Royal Society of Chemistry. "Cadmium." Cadmium - Element Information, Properties and Uses. Accessed
December 15, 2014. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/48/cadmium.
12
Schoeters, Greet, Elly Den Hond, Moniek Zuurbrier, Rima Nagiene, Peter Van Den Hazel, Nikoloas Stilianakis,
Roberto Ronchetti, and Janna Koppe. "Cadmium and Children: Exposure and Health Effects." Acta Paediatrica 95,
no. 453 (2006): 50-54. Environmental Protection Agency. "Cadmium Compounds." Environmental Protection
Agency. January 1, 2000. Accessed December 15, 2014. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/cadmium.html.
13
Royal Society of Chemistry. "Cobalt." Cobalt - Element Information, Properties and Uses. Accessed December
15, 2014. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/27/cobalt.
14
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. "Public Health Statement for Cobalt." April 1, 2004.
Accessed December 15, 2014. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=371&tid=64#bookmark06. Environmental
Protection Agency. "Cobalt Compounds." Environmental Protection Agency. January 1, 200. Accessed December
15, 2014. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/cobalt.html.
15
Royal Chemistry Society. "Lead." Lead - Element Information, Properties and Uses. Accessed December 15,
2014. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/82/lead.
16
American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry. "Lead Exposure In Children Affects Brain And Behavior."
Facts for Families Pages. November 1, 2012. Accessed December 15, 2014.
http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_Pages/Lead_Exposure
_In_Children_Affects_Brain_And_Behavior_45.aspx.
17
Mercury was not found to be present in any of the toys surveyed but was included as a chemical of concern that
will be regulated under the Child Safe Products Act.
18
Environmental Protection Agency. "Mercury Compounds." Environmental Protection Agency. January 1, 2000.
Accessed December 15, 2014. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/mercury.html.
19
Bose-Reilly, Stephan. "Mercury Exposure and Children's Health." Current Problems Pediatric and Adolescent
Healthcare 40, no. 8 (2010): 186-215. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3096006/. Environmental
Protection Agency. "Health Effects of Mercury." Environmental Protection Agency. March 1, 2014. Accessed
December 15, 2014. http://www.epa.gov/mercury/effects.htm. Washington State Department of Health. "Mercury."

Toxic Toys
The Independent Democratic Conference purchased and collected toys from Claires, Icing, 99cents stores, and other discount toy retailers across the Bronx and located these items in other
boroughs. This report identifies some of the most toxic products found.
In order to test the toys an XRF analyzer was used. The XRF analyzer can detect many heavy
metals like antimony, cadmium, cobalt, lead, mercury, and bromine. However, the XRF is unable
to detect complex molecules and compounds like flame retardants, pesticides, or other harmful
organic compounds. For this reason, childrens products were identified that contained
antimony, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, and lead.
Here is what was found in the childrens products surveyed:

Washington State Dept. of Health. Accessed December 15, 2014.

http://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/HealthyHome/Contaminants/Mercury.

Superman Foil Puzzle (Cobalt)

Freedom Action Heroes (Lead)

Super Power X-Storm Car Set (Cobalt)

Gerber Onesies (Cadmium and Cobalt)

Spongebob Squarepants Pencil Case (Cadmium

and Lead)
Cherubic Cetacean (Cadmium and Lead)

Spongebob Squarepants Briefs (Cobalt)

Happy Friends Pencil Case (Cadmium)

Formula Superior Super Racer (Cobalt and Lead)

Top Speed Sport Racer (Lead)

Hello Kitty Charm Necklace (Cobalt)

Dora the Explorer Pencil Case (Cadmium and

Lead)

Hello Kitty Ring Set (Cadmium and Cobalt)

Icing (9 pairs) Earrings (Arsenic, Cobalt, Lead,

and Antimony)

Icing Earrings Flower (Cobalt)

Super Truck (Antimony)

Firetruck (Cobalt and Lead)

Hello Kitty Charm Bracelet (Antimony and

Cobalt)
Hello Kitty Ring (Cadmium)

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Icing Earrings (Arsenic, Cobalt, and Lead)

All of these products were purchased in stores located in the Bronx. However, the products
catalogued here are available in all of the boroughs of New York City. (See Appendix II for
locations).

Recommendation
It is plainly evident by this survey of childrens products and toys that current law does not
adequately protect children from exposure to harmful chemicals.
The Child Safe Products act would amend Article 37 of the Environmental Conservation law to
add a new Title IX, Toxic Chemicals in Childrens Products, establishing a procedure to
identify intentionally-added chemicals to common childrens products such as toys and clothing.
Nine toxic chemicals and their compounds are designated priority chemicals. Initially,
manufacturers will be required to disclose the addition of these chemicals to products.
Eventually, priority chemicals will be set for removal from childrens products. These priority
chemicals include tris-(1,3)dichlorophenyl phosphate, benzene, lead, mercury, molybdenum,
antimony, arsenic, cadmium, and cobalt. Many of these chemicals were found in the survey of
childrens toys and products.
In order to facilitate the identification of priority chemicals in childrens products and
successfully ensure their removal, New York State would participate in the Interstate Chemicals
Clearinghouse. The Interstate Chemical Clearinghouse would store the chemical data collected in
New York, and the other nine states that participate in the clearinghouse.
Under the bill, manufacturers would be required to report the intentional addition of any of the
priority chemicals in childrens products. The priority chemicals would be subject to an
outright ban after a certain date. The Department of Environmental Conservation in consultation
with the Department of Health, may add chemicals to the list of reportable chemicals which will
be recorded as present in childrens products.
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In sum, the Child Safe Products Act would remove some of the most dangerous chemicals found
in this survey from store shelves. Additionally, the bill would create a database of known toxic
products which will empower consumers to make toxic-free choices.
The Independent Democratic Conference strongly urges the Senate and the Assembly to pass and
the Governor to sign into law the Child Safe Products Act. The laws passage will ensure that
toxic chemicals like those found in this survey of childrens toys and products, will no longer be
sold in New York.
Methodology
In late November and early December, the products surveyed were purchased from a number of
stores in the Bronx. After receiving the test results, the same products tested were found in stores
across New York City.
The products were purposefully selected based on lists of toxic childrens products available
through the Washington State database of toxic childrens products.20 The lists served as a guide
to selecting products that, in the past, were found to contain toxic chemicals.
Childrens products that did not contain any chemicals of concern or contained lower than 10
parts per million of the heavy metals were not reported. Reported toys contained 10 parts per
million of chemicals of concern including, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, and lead.
The products were tested using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence Analyzer manufactured by InnoX. The XRF is used to test for heavy metals in products. Heavy metals that may be tested for
include: antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chlorine, cobalt, lead, and mercury. Heavy metals may be
tested for at the parts per million level. The tests were conducted by Bobbi Chase Wilding,
Deputy Director for Clean and Healthy New York, who is trained in the use of the XRF analyzer,
and has been using it to test consumer products for the past seven years.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to:
Bobbi Chase Wilding, Deputy Director, Clean and Healthy New York
Christopher Goeken, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, New York League of
Conservation Voters.
Appendix I : See attached.
Appendix II: See attached.

20

Washington State Department of Ecology. "Product Testing Data." Home Page. Accessed December 15, 2014.
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/ptdbpublicreporting/.

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