Avoid Toxic Plastic Toys

Children's toys and baby products made of soft plastic may contain hormone-disrupting chemicals. Phthalates (pronounced thal-ates) are a class of chemicals found in many consumer products -- from cosmetics to children's toys. Commonly used in fragrances and to soften PVC plastic, phthalates interfere with hormonally-driven reproductive development.

Phthalate-leaching toys and baby products pose a particular threat to infants and young children. Phthalates can be ingested, inhaled and also absorbed through the skin.

But don't bother looking for phthalates on the label. Without labeling requirements, there is no way for even the most careful shoppers to know whether a toy or other product contains phthalates.

Earlier this year, Congress banned the sale of toys and child care products that contain six different phthalates. The law goes into effect February 10, 2009 but the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) opted to apply the U.S. ban to the production - and not sale - of toys with phthalates, allowing manufacturers to stockpile the banned toys and products and put them on store shelves long after the ban was intended to go into effect. The law lowers the allowable level of lead in toys and bans the same phthalates that have been banned from European toys for nearly a decade. There's no reason Americans should have to wait any longer for safer toys.

NRDC is suing the CPSC to enforce the ban on toxic toys and keep them out of the hands (and mouths) of children. Read more about the lawsuit in our scientist's blog.

Toy manufacturers both in the US and abroad are already making toys that don't contain phthalates. Parents just need to find them. Call customer service and ask the manufacturer if their products contain phthalates. If they can't tell you whether or not the toy is phthalate-free, find another that is. Check healthytoys.org or the ZRecs guide to safer children's products. Avoid buy anything that is made of PVC plastic and buy fragrance-free personal care products. Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is a soft plastic that is bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalate-free.

Several major retailers have pledged to remove or restrict children's products containing phthalates but this is a voluntary and unenforceable measure.  Without a permanent ban, there's no assurance that baby products and toys won't contain toxic chemicals that disrupt normal development.

simple steps

• Avoid toys and products made from PVC or "vinyl" which can leach hormone-disrupting phthalates. Soft plastic often contains phthalates.
• Replace any PVC or "vinyl" products in your home with safer alternatives.
• Avoid phthalates when you can by selecting products without fragrance. Phthalates, hormone-disrupting chemicals, are frequently added to products, along with many other chemicals, as fragrance - even "unscented" products.