My son is six years old now, but I still worry about chemicals he might be exposed to – even with his toys. But, when he was little, I never thought about plastic toys that might contain PVC. Now, we are learning that not only toys, but also cups and bottles may contain PVC.
PVC (or polyvinyl chloride) is a bad plastic that is unfortunately very commonly used. It has what are known as hormone disruptors and can cause asthma or other respiratory problems. Many companies are voluntarily discontinuing use of PVC and some states are trying to ban products that use it. But recently, I read about how many of the bouncy houses my son loves contain PVC – yikes!
Another thing we have to worry about in toys is lead. I remember growing up the commercials about kids eating lead paint and how bad that was. Exposure to lead can lead to learning disabilities and behavioral problems.
It’s frightening, but you can do certain things to try to protect the little ones as much as possible. First, don’t assume just because a toy is a top quality name that it is safe. I remember a few years back having to send one of my son’s Thomas the Tank Engine trains back because it contained lead paint. This is a single train engine for which I paid $20!
They replaced it, but that was an important lesson – keep up on recalls. Check the web frequently to see if any toys have been recalled. Visit the www.recalls.gov for all recalls (not just toys, but food, cars, etc.). Check the bulletin boards at stores you frequent for recall notices. I know they are very easy to spot at Target, Toys-R-Us, and Wal-Mart.
Also, look at the toys. You may see a number 3 followed by the letters PVC or the word “vinyl.” If there is no labeling, try the smell test. If it smells “plasticky,” it probably contains PVC. That is scary because I know exactly what smell that is! If all else fails, call the manufacturer to find out what the product contains.