PLASTICS AND HEALTH
Singapore watchdog probes toxicology of toys / Almost half the items examined contain excessive amounts of phthalates or lead
 Of the 50 toys tested by CASE, 23 failed chemical toxicological tests (Photo: CASE) |
A recent test of 50 toys carried out by the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE, Singapore; www.case.org.sg) found that 23 (46%) of them failed chemical toxicological tests. Whereas it was found that 16 of the toys exceeded the international limit of phthalates, three contained excessive amounts of lead, and four toys contained excessive amounts of both materials.
Ahead of the test, CASE purchased 50 toys – most probably from Asian production – from different parts of the city state, making sure that the toys were either brightly and colourfully painted to indicate a possible presence of excessive lead, or soft and pliable, which points towards a possible presence of excessive phthalates.
CASE commissioned the tests, carried out by a local branch of Insight Laboratories (Floral Park, New York / USA; www.insightlabs.com), after several students came down with food poisoning in the wake of having handled a bean toy in February this year.
Ahead of the test, CASE purchased 50 toys – most probably from Asian production – from different parts of the city state, making sure that the toys were either brightly and colourfully painted to indicate a possible presence of excessive lead, or soft and pliable, which points towards a possible presence of excessive phthalates.
CASE commissioned the tests, carried out by a local branch of Insight Laboratories (Floral Park, New York / USA; www.insightlabs.com), after several students came down with food poisoning in the wake of having handled a bean toy in February this year.
26.08.2010 Plasteurope.com [217102]
Published on 26.08.2010
German version of this article...