Consumer Product Testing
Results
Copyright 2007RAMP, Rochester, New York
Information on some chemicals in
children’s products is provided below. We have focused on metals and some other
chemicals commonly found in young children’s products and in products that young
children may accidently eat that could cause harm. Empire State Consumer Group
of Rochester, New York purchased the products from many different types of
stores: toy, baby, drug, sporting goods, craft, art supply, and many mall
stores. Items from catalogs and groceries were tested, and some product inserts
in foods (e.g., toys in cereal boxes). The group requested testing by Paradigm
Laboratories, a certified lab in Rochester that uses standard
federally-specified protocols, as indicated below.
We urge people across the country to carry out testing, to
request their public health agencies test and learn about this issue, and for
all people to assist in identifying and removing hazardous products that
children routinely come into contact with. Links to other organizations’ results
are provided below and we will post a link to your results on request. Empire
State Consumer Group has no financial interest in this work.
"UNLESS someone like you cares a
whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not."
The Lorax Dr. Seuss
Beads in a small bracelet
Testing for cadmium (Cd) began in October of 2007 and when a very high
level of cadmium was found and confirmed in the beads from a child’s bracelet, a
full metals scan was carried out to evaluate composition. Other products have
not yet been tested for all metals and only a few have been tested for cadmium.
The following information was provided by the testing lab.
Results of Metal Tests on Children’s Toy Bracelet Charms, November and December, 2007
Explanation of Information in the Table:
Each “parameter” listed in the first column is an element and most may be
present in a variety of chemical forms (metal compounds). These compounds vary
in their toxicity. About 85% of the bead is cadmium, zinc, or iron, and the
balance is other metals.
The results list the amount of mass of each metal found, in relation to the
total mass of the bead. The units are “mg/kg” which means milligrams (mg) of the
metal in relation to kilograms (kg) of the bead. A mg is one thousandth of a
gram (0.001 grams) and a kg is one thousand grams (1000 grams) so they differ by
a factor of one million. Therefore the expression “mg/kg” also means “parts per
million ” (ppm). For example, arsenic was found at a concentration of 16.6 mg/kg
(ppm). Cadmium comprised 227,000 mg/kg (ppm) and is so large that we can express
this as a percentage of the bead, calculated as follows:
227,000 Cadmium_______ = 227 = 22.7
percent (23%) 1,000,000 Total Composition 1,000
Results in the table that have the symbol “<”
indicate that the metal was NOT found at or above the concentration shown. The
number listed is the detection limit for the lab analysis - that is, the
concentration below which the lab cannot measure the presence of the metal. So
the metal may be present at any level below that concentration or may not be
present at all in the toy.
Metals Information
Not all metals are toxic; in fact some are essential nutrients. Even
those may cause harm if exposure it too high. Some metals, including many
“heavy” metals, are among the oldest known poisons and should not be present in
children’s products. While there is not universal agreement on every aspect of
the toxicity of these metals, we have relied on federal and international health
agency documents to indicate those that are generally considered toxic at low
doses. Because of their toxicity, many are very severely restricted by law to
prevent human consumption in drinking water, toys, or other materials and to
minimize exposure from inhalation. Links to toxicity information and regulations
are provided on the home page.
The following metals found in the bracelet charms are generally considered
hazardous at low doses in many or all of their forms: arsenic cadmium, chromium,
lead, manganese, thallium, and vanadium. Nickel can cause sensitivity reactions
in some people and at sufficient doses is harmful. Zinc is a trace nutrient that
is present at very high quantities in this toy.
No one has ever tested the effects of this combination of metals (or most
combinations of many metals) on people or on animals, so the range of specific
health problems that can occur are not known. However, there are many toxic
metals present and the level of cadmium that is present may be sufficient to
poison a small child with one or a few charms. It may also pose a severe danger
to pets. So while there is no question that consumption of these charms is
unhealthy, the specific consequences can only partially be determined. The main
webpage contains information on the types of toxicity caused by cadmium and
other metals.
Product Information with Images
Purchased October, 2007 at a Dollar Tree Store in
Henrietta, New York, a suburb of Rochester the front and back of the package are
shown below. The item number is 873089 according to the image below. The
distribution company, and country of origin are shown on the top image below.
The name of the product line, “sassy & chic” is shown on both images below.
Designed for children, as indicated by “Kids Boxed Novelty Jewelry” stated on
the front of the package.
The date of initial testing is shown with
results above. Due to the very high cadmium level, we requested retesting prior
to communicating with the relevant authorities. Confirmed results were sent week
of November 12th to the NY State Attorney General’s Office, the Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC), the national Animal Poison Control Center at the
University of Illinois, and hundreds of health, children’s safety, and other
organizations in the US and worldwide. (Information on the response of the CPSC
has been published in some news accounts and is not discussed here.)
A new version of the bracelet (holiday colors) that was just put onto the
shelves is also being tested. (November 19, 2007)
(Copyright RAMP, 2007)
The following results were obtained on December 6th, 2007 from a charm on a child’s toy bracelet purchased at a Rochester New York area Dollar Tree Store in November, 2007. The EPA analytical method and amount of cadmium and chromium, both considered toxic heavy metals, are shown. Results are expressed in mg/kg, which is equivalent to parts per million (ppm).
TT
Results of Metal Tests on Children’s Toy Bracelet Charms, November and December, 2007
The following results were obtained in November 2007 from three charms on three different children’s toy bracelets (similar style and packaging) purchased at a Rochester New York area Dollar Tree Store the same month.
(Copyright RAMP, 2007)
The following results were obtained on December 6th, 2007 from a charm on a child’s toy bracelet purchased at a Rochester New York area Dollar Tree Store in November, 2007. The EPA analytical method and amount of cadmium and chromium, both considered toxic heavy metals, are shown. Results are expressed in mg/kg, which is equivalent to parts per million (ppm).
Results of Metal Tests on Children’s Toy Bracelet Charms, November and December, 2007
The following results were obtained in November 2007 from three charms on three different children’s toy bracelets (similar style and packaging) purchased at a Rochester New York area Dollar Tree Store the same month.
Additional Testing Results on Other Products
Testing results from many other toys and children’s products have been
obtained by Empire State Consumer Group in recent years. The results obtained
this year are being organized and will be posted on this site in the next few
days.
Some products from stores and vending machines that have been tested include:
Puffer balls
Vinyl bibs
Baby spoons
Decorative pins
Tin Christmas tree
Most were tested for lead and a variety of chemicals. Some were also tested
for cadmium. We are planning a broad spectrum metals test on more children’s
products in the near future (i.e., it will include the range of metals shown in
the “results” table above).
Contact Information: Judy Braiman, President RAMP at:
judybraiman@frontier.net
Copyright 2007RAMP, Rochester, New York