5,000 Children’s Products Contain Toxic or Dangerous Ingredients
5,000 Children’s Products Contain Toxic or Dangerous Ingredients
Thousands of products used by children contain toxic chemicals that can cause serious health problems, according to a public advocacy group in Washington State.
The Washington Toxics Coalition, with the support of Safer States, found more than 5,000 children’s products that had toxic metals such as cadmium, mercury and antimony, as well as organic compounds like phthalates, that are included on the state’s list of 66 Chemicals of High Concern to Children.
Exposure to these chemicals can result in cancer, hormone disruption and reproductive problems, the group said in a newly released report.
It also cited large U.S. companies that have used the chemicals in their products, including Walmart, Gap, Gymboree, Hallmark, and H & M. Among the actual products were Hallmark’s party hats, which contain arsenic; Walmart dolls with bisphenol A; and Claire’s cosmetics containing cancer-causing formaldehyde.
The most common toxic chemicals were cobalt and cobalt compounds (1,228 products), ethylene glycol (1,066 products), and antimony and antimony compounds (525 products) and methyl ethyl ketone (469 products). Cobalt is used in plastic building blocks and baby bibs; ethylene glycol in dolls; antimony in high chairs and booster seats; and methyl ethyl ketone in clothing.
http://www.allgov.com/news/controversies/5000-childrens-products-contain-toxic-or-dangerous-ingredients-130507?news=849953
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