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"Plastic children’s toys, especially those made of PVC, can
contain phthalates. This group of ‘gender bender’ chemicals is
used to soften plastic and has been linked to reproductive
problems and the apparent earlier onset of puberty in girls.
Babies and toddlers are particularly at risk from the health
threats posed by phthalates because their bodies are still
developing. The European Union is so concerned by the risks
posed by phthalates leaking out of plastics when chewed that it
has put in place an emergency ban of phthalates in teething toys
for children under the age of three. But phthalates are still
found in non-teething toys for under-threes and in plastic toys
for older children. And babies will chew anything, whether it is
designed to be chewed or not.
To avoid phthalates, shoppers
should ask for PVC-free toys and try to avoid plastic toys
altogether. Some manufacturers such as Ikea and Lego do
not use phthalates in the products they sell, and other toy
companies have committed themselves to a PVC-free policy."
The above extract is taken from the Friends of the Earth
website. We have looked into the phthalate debate and feel the
jury is still out on this one. There has yet to be a confirmed
case of a child actually becoming ill as a direct result of
phthalates "leaking" from a plastic toys. The thing is that toy
manufacturers and activists against the phthalates both have
their own agendas, and until definitive proof is delivered
either way, we wouldn't recommend loosing to much sleep over
this one.
There are far more serious and proven allergens and irritants
for parents to concern themselves with. Be aware, but not overly
wary at this point. The truth is that plastic (even though it's
not environmentally friendly) has an excellent safety record.
You should however avoid unnecessary contact with plastics if
you suffer from a latex allergy.
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