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Chemicals of Concern

Introduction

Lead

Chlorine (PVC)

Cadmium

Arsenic

Mercury

Other Chemicals

Alternatives

Resources

Other Chemicals of Concern

Antimony, Bromine, Chromium, Tin

XRF measurements of toy components also revealed the presence of four other elements: antimony, chromium, tin and bromine. See Rating System for HealthyToys.org.

The XRF device can only detect elements. Thus, the actual form of the element in a compound cannot always be determined. The health effects information below is based on the elemental form and the compounds most likely to be present in the items tested.

Voluntary and mandatory safety standards for most of these chemicals have been published both in the U.S. and Europe for toys, computers, fabrics and leathers, office furniture and vehicles.

Below is a summary of general environmental and health concerns associated with these elements and related chemical compounds. The health concerns discussed below may be dependent on many factors, including actual exposure levels, the valence levels of the elements and/or the actual chemical compound used in a toy or children's product component.

HealthyToys.org ratings do not provide a measure of health risk or chemical exposure associated with any individual toy or children's product, or any individual element or related chemical. HealthyToys.org ratings only provide a relative measure of high, medium, and low concentrations of several hazardous chemicals or chemical elements in a toy or children's product in comparison to criteria established in the site methodology.

Antimony

Antimony is used as a catalyst in the production of polyesters. Antimony trioxide is also used in combination with brominated flame retardants to increase fire resistance. In our testing we found both lower levels of antimony (160-700 ppm range) that are consistent with polyester applications, as well as higher levels (2,000-5,000 ppm range) that may be consistent with flame retardant applications. In either case, it is possible that antimony is released from the plastic material.

Health Effects:

Depending on the form and levels of exposure:

• Antimony trioxide is classified as a carcinogen in the state of California and has been listed as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the European Union.
• In long-term studies, animals that breathed very low levels of antimony had eye irritation, hair loss, lung damage, and heart problems (ATSDR 1992).
• Higher levels of antimony have been shown to cause fertility problems and lung cancer in animals (ATSDR 1992).
• A recent report indicates that antimony can weakly mimic naturally-occurring estrogen. The human health implications of this discovery are unknown. (Choe 2003)

Where We Found It:

• Squirt toys, crib toys
• Rattles
• Plush toys
• Toy cars, dolls, and figurines

Current Regulations for Children's Products

• The toy industry has established a voluntary migration standard for the amount of antimony that can migrate from toys of 60 ppm. It is not enforceable. The European toy industry has established a migration standard of 60 ppm for antimony.

Chromium

Chromium (Cr) is found in several forms in products. It is used primarily as a component in alloys and in stainless steel, but two forms, Cr (III) and Cr (IV), can also be used as pigments. Cr (III) is used in leather tanning, and Cr (VI) in wood preservatives. Chromium can also be used in textiles, and as catalysts (ATSDR, 2005).

Health Effects

The toxicity of chromium strongly depends on the oxidation state of this element; two of the most common forms are the less toxic Cr(III) or the highly toxic Cr(VI) state. XRF testing does not distinguish between oxidation states and only indicates the presence of the elemental chromium. While chromium is an essential nutrient, the most protective eco-label standards require no use of chromium in leather tanning and fabric.

Depending on the form and the level of exposure:

• Cr (III) is an essential nutrient for the body.
• Some Cr (VI) compounds are considered known carcinogens as a result of increased lung cancer among exposed workers (ATSDR, 2000).
• Laboratory studies indicate that Cr (VI) may cause birth defects, reproductive problems, and reduced disease resistance (ATSDR, 2000).
• Higher levels of exposure have caused asthma attacks and nasal irritation in people (ATSDR, 2000).

Where We Found It:

• Building sets and bath toys
• Backpacks and lunch boxes
• Utensils
• Dolls, plastic food and animals, and figurines

Current Regulations for Children's Products

• The toy industry has established a voluntary migration standard for the amount of chromium that can migrate from toys of 60 ppm. It is not enforceable. The European toy industry has established a migration standard of 60 ppm for chromium.

Bromine

Bromine is a component of a family of fire-retardant chemicals known as brominated flame retardants. The most widely used of these are polybrominated diphenylethers, or PBDEs. While XRF testing cannot confirm the compound in which bromine is present in children's products, detection of bromine at higher levels may indicate the presence of PBDEs or other brominated flame retardants. PBDEs have been in production since the 1970s and have been used heavily in the manufacture of furniture, textiles,and electronics. Two of the commercial formulations, known as pentaBDE and octaBDE, were phased out after a 2004 industry agreement. The third, known as decaBDE, is still widely used.

Health Effects:

PBDEs are persistent toxic chemicals that build up in people and wildlife and contaminate breastmilk and umbilical cord blood.

Depending on the form and level of exposure:

• Studies in laboratory animals have found that PBDEs profoundly and permanently affect the developing brain at levels close to those in today's most highly exposed women (Ericksson, 2001).
• PBDE exposure may affect thyroid hormone, which is essential for proper brain development in the fetus (Zhou 2002).
• PBDEs may also cause reproductive problems and birth defects (McDonald 2005, Darnerud 2003).
• DecaBDE, the most widely used form of PBDE, is classified as a "possible human carcinogen" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (ATSDR 2004).
• A 2005 study compared levels in people with those that cause toxic effects in laboratory studies, and found that approximately five percent of American women have levels that already exceed those that cause reproductive problems in laboratory animals (McDonald, 2005).

Where We Found it:

• Interactive toys, figurines, dolls
• Toy vehicles

Current Regulations for Children's Products

• U.S. chemical manufacturers have ceased the production of two forms of PBDEs, penta and octa, but have not stopped making deca.
• Deca has traditionally been used primarily in casings for televisions and electronics.
• The toy industry has not established a voluntary migration standard for the amount of bromine that can migrate from toys.

Tin

Organotins are used as stabilizers in PVC (vinyl) products, particularly in rigid PVC products (Modern Plastics Handbook 2000). They are also used as catalysts in silicone production.

Organic tin compounds often consist of one, two, or three organic molecules attached to an atom of tin. Those with one or two organic molecules are often used to stabilize PVC plastic and are more likely to be present in children's toys, whereas those with three organic molecules are primarily used as pesticides. (Modern Plastics Handbook 2000).

HealthyToys.org tested products for tin, which may be in an organic or inorganic form.

Health Effects

Depending on the form and level of exposure:

• Exposure to high levels of inorganic tin may cause symptoms including stomach aches, liver and kidney problems, and anemia (ATSDR 2005).
• Organic forms, known as organotins, are believed to be toxic at lower levels of exposure.
• Several tin compounds cause nervous system harm, including tributyl tin, dibutyl tin, trimethyl tin, and dimethyl tin (Cooke 2004, Jenkins 2004). The developing brain is particularly vulnerable. Dibutyltin is toxic to nervous system cells at concentrations similar to those found in people today (Jenkins 2004).
• Some forms of organotin, like tributyl tin and dibutyltin, are also toxic to the immune system(Cooke 2004)

Where we Found It:

• Toys including play food, plastic dolls, and figurines
• Nursery items such as mobiles
• Rattles
• Sandals

Current Regulations for Children's Products

• The toy industry has not established a voluntary migration standard for the amount of tin that can migrate from toys.