Health
Alert for Parents about PVC Toys for Young Children
Greenpeace
has carried out an extensive assessment of soft PVC toys and associated
children's products, both in Australia and overseas.
The
results from this testing are both surprising and disturbing.
Many
of the toys tested were found to contain a range of chemical additives,
including potentially hazardous chemicals called phthalates which are
used to soften pVC toys and even the toxic heavy metals, lead and cadmium.
Of
particular concern are soft PVC toys intended for young children under
the age of three. Items such as teething rings were found to contain
up to one third of their weight in phthalates. European government testing
has demonstrated that these chemicals do leach from teethers at levels
considered unsafe by the European Union.
In
other words, when our children suck and chew on soft PVC toys, they
are unknowingly receiving a dose of these potentially harmful substances
at one of the most vulnerable periods in their development. This does
not apply to pacifiers and feeding bottle nipples.
These
additives have been shown, in independent laboratory studies on animals,
to cause a range of toxic effects, including kidney and liver damage,
reproductive abnormalities and cancerous effects.
The
Australian Toy Industry Association has stated that there is no scientific
proof these chemicals cause adverse health effects in children. Further,
that they will not remove the suspect PVC products from sale until such
time as harm is proven. Greenpeace is concerned that this proof would
mean millions of young children suffering unnecessarily.
Countries
such as Canada and Mexico have already issued a health advisory as a
precautionary measure to enable parents and caregivers to make informed
decisions about their children's health.
If
you support a precautionary approach to the health and safety of our
children, Greenpeace suggest you write to the Federal Minister for Health,
the Hon Dr Michael Wooldridge (Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600)
and your State Health Minister, raising concern at the unnecessary exposure
of our children to potentially harmful chemicals, and requesting a recall
of all PVC toys intended for use by young children.
For
further information contact Greenpeace Australia on 02 9261 4666 or
visit their website at http://www.greenpeace.org.au.
Try www.natureschild.com.au
for a range of non-toxic wooden teething rings as a safe alternative
to plastic teethers.
Information
Courtesy of Greenpeace Australia.
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