BPA and Phthalates: Parents React

Throughout the last couple of posts, I’ve been covering the topic of BPA and phthalates in childrens’ toys. Last week, I asked parents to tell me their thoughts on the issue- what they thought of the study results, and how it has (or hasn’t) had an effect on their purchasing decisions.

I got several e-mails on the subject, but I think these three pretty much sum up all of the opinions on both sides of the spectrum:

Amy Gates, known on the web as the Crunchy Domestic Goddess, is an environmentally conscious mom of two. She had this to say on the matter:

"Parents have enough on their plates without the added worry over whether or not there are harmful chemicals (BPAs) in their children's toys and drinking bottles. I just recently discovered that the Camelbak water bottles my whole family, including my two young children, has been using for the past couple years contain BPA and I am quite frustrated and upset. I assumed they were safe and apparently that's where I dropped the ball. I expected someone else (the government) to play a role in protecting our safety. I've noticed that Nalgene did a voluntary recall on their bottles that contained BPA, but I have yet to hear of any such gesture by Camelbak. That's too bad.

Phthalates are another concern, especially around babies that put anything and everything in their mouths. I was more educated about phthalates with my second child than I was with my first, and as a result was more cautious about the kinds of toys that came into our home. But again, should it be up to the parents to have to weed out the the unsafe toys from the safe toys? Shouldn't our government have some role in protecting our children and keeping dangerous chemicals out of our children's toys? We obviously still have a long way to go. In the meantime, parents need to continue to do their homework and educate themselves. We can't protect our children from everything, but we can, if we are diligent about our research, protect them from a lot."

Another favorite blogger of mine, Amy Cotrell of Geek Parenting, is also the mother of two children. She says:

"With so many toy recalls lately, I've honestly been more focused on high lead count than anything else. BPA and phthalates have just recently been brought to my attention and, frankly, I'm a bit overwhelmed with all these dangers! I suppose I should be more proactive with this cause, but my approach has just been to keep my eye out for recalls and wince every time my toddlers put something new in their mouths. I don't mean to sound apathetic where my children's health is concerned (I'm certainly not), but I can't live in constant fear whenever they touch something plastic."

And then there’s my most devoted reader and biggest fan: my own mother. Mom’s still got three kids at home, ages 16, 11, and 7. When I asked her about it, she replied with this:

"Well, we didn't know all of this information when you and your older sister were young. Your plastic bottles and toys were probably full of BPA and phthalates. You turned out okay*."

I reminded her, though, that she also seemed to think it was okay to feather our hair and make us wear legwarmers, which has since been recognized as a form of emotional abuse.

As far as my own opinion goes… I don’t have kids yet, but I’ve already begun to weed out plastics in my own home that contain BPA. To me, it just seems better to be safe than sorry.

---

*The validity of this statement is debatable.

Read more!

BPA and Phthalates: The Toy Industry vs. Environmentalists

It's been awhile since my last post, and I apologize for that. Things at Arsa have been very busy, so it's been hard for me to find time to write. We have some exciting new lines being added, though, so I'll keep you posted as they go up on the website!

Anyway, throughout my series on BPA and phthalates, we've learned what the chemicals are, what doctors say about their potential harm, and what the government has done in light of the concerns raised by the recent studies. This has caused a huge divide to form between environmentalists and the toy industry, each of whom has very strong opinions on the new legislation.

The toy industry, not surprisingly, is not pleased with the new regulations.

"This action flies in the face of sound scientific evidence provided by researchers both in Europe and in the USA that these products are safe for use in children's products," says Tom Conley, president of the Toy Industry Association. "We aren't going to roll over and take this lying down."

To analyze the validity of Conley's claim, I did a quick search on Google to find out which studies had concluded that these chemicals were safe. Interestingly, all of the ones I found were conducted or funded by chemical companies, who would have much to lose monetarily if phthalates and BPA were found to be toxic.

Environmentalists, who have spearheaded the movement to get these chemicals banned, are naturally pleased with the results of their campaigns.

Environment California spokesperson Rachel Gibson told E Magazine, "Many places in the world have to comply with restrictions on phthalates. It's a mystery why we sell toxic toys to American kids."

In light of the National Toxicology Program's recent report, and especially the authors' recommendation that BPA at least be phased out, it's easy to see why they are concerned.

Steven Hentges, executive director of the American Plastics Council's Polycarbonate Business Unit, counters with this statement: "The data that is presented has been known for years and, most importantly, data of that type has been reviewed by government agencies around the world in their comprehensive reviews on BPA and, in every case, they reach a conclusion even after considering this kind of data that polycarbonate baby bottles are safe for use."

I don't have any kids, myself, but I'm very interested in what parents are thinking about all this. I'd love to hear some feedback from my readers about BPA and phthalates, and how (if at all) this information has impacted your purchasing decisions. If you'd like to have your quote published on this blog, send me an e-mail at marketing AT arsatoys DOTCOM, and I'll put it in my next entry at the end of the week. Read more!

BPA and Phthalates: Legislation

As we saw in last Friday's post, BPA and phthalates have both caused some concern in the medical community, due to the potential effects they could have on the human body. In response to this evidence, many government agencies have taken action in an attempt to keep these chemicals out of products that could expose small children to their associated health risks.

In July of 2005, the European Union banned six different phthalates from use in toys and childcare items. The EU had already had temporary, renewable restrictions of these phthalates in place since 1999.

Last October, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill to enact a similar law in the Golden State. The California law bans the manufacture, sale, or distribution of any toys containing phthalates in the state starting in January of 2009. Toy companies in the area have just over seven months remaining to phase these toys out before the ban takes effect.


Other state governments could soon follow the Governator's lead and adopt similar legislation; bills like the California ban have appeared and been rejected in Oregon, Maryland, and New York, and environmentalists have begun to push the issue in Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. With California taking the first step, other states may feel more comfortable and justified in following suit.


As far as BPA is concerned, neither the U.S. Government nor the EU has enacted legislation to ban or restrict its use. However, the National Toxicology Program's most recent findings have prompted another investigation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to determine whether or not the use of BPA is safe in toy- and food-related products.

Last week, Canada became the first country to label the chemical unsafe and could pioneer legislative action against it. Unless it can be proven harmless, Health Minister Tony Clement has stated that its use in products for kids will be banned across the country. He and Environment Minister John Baird handed out BPA-free bottles to parents following an April 18th news conference on the subject.

Large-scale companies have already made their choices clear on the matter: Wal-Mart announced that they will be phasing out all BPA-laced products and will have them completely pulled from their shelves by early next year. Toys R' Us quickly followed suit, and rumor has it that Target stores could be next. In addition, Playtex, a leading manufacturer of baby bottles, has made the commitment to phase out BPA in all of their products by the end of the year and is offering a free sample of one of their current BPA-free products.

My next post will cover the reactions to this legislation from environmentalists and the manufacturers of these chemicals, as well as the toy industry. Additionally, if any of my readers are parents who are just itching to share their opinions, I would love to post your comments later this week! Tell me your reaction to the BPA/phthalate controversy and how, if at all, it has affected your decisions in purchasing toys for your children.

Read more!

BPA and Phthalates: What the medical community says

In Wednesday's post, I introduced the controversial issue of BPA and phthalates in children's toys. This time, I'd like to explore the medical evidence regarding the chemicals' effects on the developing human body, and take a look at what doctors have to say about the subject.

Last week, a report on BPA was issued by the National Toxicology Program, working under the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to their report, BPA has the potential to effect human development and reproduction. BPA functions as a synthetic form of estrogen, and in studies on lab animals it was shown to reduce survival of newborn animals, lower birth weight, and slow growth of offspring early in life,
and delay the onset of puberty in males and females. Although the doses given to the animals during the studies were much lower than the estimated levels to which babies and children are exposed, the report still cautions that "the possibility that bisphenol A may alter human development cannot be dismissed."

Human studies of the effects of BPA remain inconclusive due to "small sample size, cross-sectional design, lack of large variations in exposure, or lack of adjustment for potential confounders." In English, that basically means that we haven't done enough in-vitro testing on human subjects to determine what the effects are, or how serious they might be.

As to whether or not the doses we take in are high enough to cause concern, the report concludes that "estimated exposures in pregnant women and fetuses, infants, and children are similar to levels of bisphenol A associated with several 'low' dose laboratory animal findings of effects on the brain and behavior, prostate and mammary gland development, and early onset of puberty in females."

It's no secret that girls are maturing faster today than in previous generations, with many girls developing breast buds as early as seven years of age and some developing as toddlers in more extreme cases, according to a report by the Breast Cancer Fund. One theory for this is that BPA levels in toys and plastic bottles leach the artificial estrogen compounds into their bodies from the time they are born.

As for phthalates, exposure to these chemicals is much more widespread, and the majority (over 90%) of Americans tested by the Center for Disease Control have shown metabolic evidence of multiple kinds of phthalates in their urine. The CDC issued a report in July 2005 that cited damage to the liver and testes and birth defefcts in rodents given high doses of phthalates, but concluded that further studies needed to be done to determine the risks to humans. In
addition, the doses given to the rodents in the study is much higher than the estimated average exposure rate for humans.

A separate 2005 study showed a link between phthalates and reproductive development in boys, citing a shortened distance between the anal and genital regions in boys born to mothers with high levels of phthalates measured in their urine during pregnancy. However, the National Toxicology Program questioned the science behind this study, stating that "Whether anogenital distance measurements in humans relate to clinically important outcomes, however, remains to be determined."

So what does all of this mean? Basically, with both chemicals, there is evidence of effects on the human body, but not enough conclusive research to officially state that either chemical is highly toxic on a large scale. More testing needs to be done before we can fully determine how these chemicals could affect us.

That doesn't mean that these chemicals are harmless, however, or that we shouldn't be concerned, though. Dr. Maida Galvez, a pediatrician who has been studying the toxicity of BPA, had this to say when interviewed for ABC News: "We know the animal studies raise concerns, but there aren't human studies showing effects yet ... so, when we don't have the evidence, what we recommend is that parents try to err on the side of caution." She encourages parents to steer clear of products like containers and bottles in which BPA can leach directly into a child's digestive system.

Medical evidence for the harmful effects of these chemicals has prompted several pieces of legislation both in the U.S. and abroad. We'll take a look at the measures that government agencies have taken against BPA and phthalates in next Monday's post. Read more!

Toy Recall: Basketball and Flower Tables

These technically aren't toys, but since Arsa sells childrens' furniture, I figured it deserved a mention:

Flower and Basketball Tables by Avon Products

Reason for recall: Excessive levels of lead in surface paint

About 1,000 of these tables are included in the recall. The basketball table measures approximately 16 inches tall, and features white legs and a 19-inch diameter top. The flower table is around 30 inches tall with a green stand and leaf-shaped shelves and a 15-inch diameter purple and yellow top. They were sold by Avon independent sales representatives in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from June 2007 to August 2007. The basketball table sold for approximately $32, and the flower table for about $37. So far, no injuries have been reported. Consumers should immediately take the tables away from children and contact Avon for a full refund. Avon is working on contacting known purchasers directly to inform them of the recall.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Avon toll-free at (888) 993-9903 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.avon.com/.

Read more!

BPA and Phthalates: What are they?

Bishphenol-A.

Phthalates.

No, I’m not talking about new Star Trek characters. (Although, if I was, would anyone be surprised? Probably not.)

These are the names of two chemicals commonly found in plastic, and they have been causing quite a buzz in several communities. Environmentalists, toy manufacturers, doctors, the media, and even the government have all been talking about them lately. In light of all that’s being said, it can be hard for parents to decide how they feel about it all. So, for the next few days, I’m going to talk about this issue. I’m going to objectively present the facts from all sides of the debate, and allow you to decide how, if at all, it will affect your choices in choosing toys for your kids.

First of all, let’s talk about exactly what these chemicals are, and what they do.

Bisphenol-A (abbreviated BPA) is an organic compound made of a specific grouping of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms. Common uses for BPA include baby and water bottles, tooth sealants, sports equipment, medical devices, CDs, and household electronics, as well as the resin coating that lines the insides of many different canned foods. It has also been used as a flame-retardant material and fungicide.

Phthalates (pronounced “THAL-ates”) are a derivative of phthalic acid and are commonly used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics more flexible.

Both of these chemicals are fairly common in childrens’ toys.

In my next entry, I plan to explore what the medical community says about the potential effects and hazards of these chemicals on the human body. Stay tuned! Read more!

Toy Safety: Choking Hazards

One of the scariest moments in my life was seeing my youngest brother, Sam, choke on a piece of hot dog when he was about five. My dad gave him the Heimlich, and, fortunately, he coughed up the offending piece of meat and quickly recovered. He had been deprived of air long enough that his face and lips had begun to turn pale, and I can remember him crying for a long time afterward. To this day, he still won’t eat hot dogs.

Food-related choking hazards are certainly concerning, but a less obvious danger lies in toys which contain small pieces that could present a choking hazard to young children. According to the Consumer Product Safety commission, 292 children suffered toy-related deaths in the last fifteen years, and a whopping 57% of these were due to choking and subsequent asphyxia. The highest number of choking deaths came from balloons, balls, and toy parts, and the majority of these were in children under five.

When selecting toys for young kids, it’s important to take this potential hazard into consideration. According to KidsHealth.org, a good rule of thumb is that a toy should be at least 1.75 inches (4.4 centimeters) in diameter if it is going to be given to a small child. Concerned parents can also use a small-parts tester, also known as a choke tube, to test the size of toys and small parts.

The tube is designed to be roughly the same size as a small child’s windpipe. If a toy or toy part fits into the tube, it is too small and should be considered a dangerous choking hazard to children under 3 years of age. They are available for purchase, but it's just as easy and effective (and more environmetally friendly!) to use an empty toilet paper or paper towel tube. These cardboard tubes are actually slightly larger in diameter than a small-parts tester, so they may actually rule out more hazards than the pricier, plastic versions.

The worst offender in these choking cases seems to be deflated balloons. They accounted for 69 of the 292 total toy-related deaths, and 41.5% of the deaths by choking and asphyxiation. Children love balloons, but once the air is let out or the balloon bursts, the latex material can easily be swallowed by small children and can become lodged in the throat. For this reason, balloons should never be given to babies or toddlers unless they will be directly supervised the entire time they have it.

One of the most important thing parents can do to prevent toy-related choking injuries is to be active in choosing kids’ toys. Some helpful guidelines:

1. Read the labels! Toys are marked for specific age groups, so make sure you are buying toys that are age-appropriate for your child
   
   
2. Make sure squeaky toys, rattles, and teethers are large enough that they cannot be fully inserted into a child’s mouth. Make sure these toys cannot be squeezed or compressed into a smaller size, as well.
   
   
3. Remember to check toys for removable parts! These must also be large enough not to be inserted into the mouth or lodged in the throat.
   
   
4. Check the eyes and noses of plush toys to be sure that they are not easily broken off. These present a very real danger if they become detached and swallowed.

The last tip, and probably the most valuable advice I can give, is to supervise your child's playtime. This allows you to stop potential hazards before they become dangerous. In addition, becoming involved in your child's playtime helps strengthen the parent-child bond and facilitates learning and development beyond what your child could do on his or her own.

I am going to try to feature a different safety-related topic each week on Monday morning, and I would love to hear feedback from my readers! Please don’t ever hesitate to ask questions, voice concerns, or suggest topics that you'd like to hear more about. You can send me comments using the link below this entry.

Read more!

Barbie's comic book alter-egos: Batgirl, Black Canary, Wonder Woman, Elektra, and Lois Lane!

WARNING: You are about to experience a ridiculous amount of nerdery. Proceed with caution.

It’s kind of a running joke around the office that I’m a complete geek. First there’s my obsession with all things toy-related. I have figurines and stuffed animals all over my desk. And then there’s my ant farm, which should be arriving within the week. And I keep Silly Putty in my purse… The list goes on!

And then there are my cubicle walls, which are nothing more than a vivid display of one of my other obsessions: comics! Between the two of us, my fiancé and I have so many comic books that we’ve devoted an entire room to them. (We call it the Nerd Cave, and we’re very proud of it.)

So you can imagine my excitement when I heard that Mattel is producing a line of superhero Barbie dolls. They’ve taken my two biggest joys in life and thrown them together into a perfect marriage of nerdy goodness!

They’re even making a doll modeled after my personal favorite superhero, Black Canary:

She looks great, as far as I’m concerned. (I only wish she had a button that activated her Canary Cry. How cool would that be?) I can’t wait for these to come out! I wasn’t really into Barbies as a little girl. I was more of an arts & crafts kid, myself. But I love the collectible lines, now that I’m older. I even purchased a set of the X-Files dolls when they came out. Observe my geekery:

Currently, Arsa doesn’t carry Mattel products, but it is under consideration. I’d love to hear some feedback on what you all think. Would you be interested in seeing us add products like Barbie, Scrabble, or the Hot Wheels series? Leave me a comment and let me know, and I’ll pass the word along! Read more!

Toy Recalls

I know that toy recalls have become an increasing concern for parents, especially with the current lead paint scare, so I've decided to help make parents aware of current recalls by posting them here at ToyTalk as they occur. I will be checking daily to see if any new recalls are added, but please feel free to alert me via e-mail if you hear of any that I don't catch!

This one was just added yesterday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Western Rider Push Toy by Santa's Toy Corporation

Reason for recall: Excessive levels of lead in surface paint

About 9,000 of these toys are included in the recall. The push toy features a horse and rider with a 20" detachable handle, and the toys were sold in dollar and discount stores from February 2005 through February 2008, for about $2.50 to $3.00. The toys should be taken immediately to the stores from which they were purchase for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Santa’s Toy Corp. toll-free at (888) 726-8208 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or e-mail the firm at info@santastoycorp.com

Read more!

Waldo's back!

A friend of mine recently Twittered this link to me:

Where On Earth Is Waldo?

Melanie Coles, a student at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, designed and painted a 54-ft. long vinyl Waldo portrait, which she then placed on a rooftop in Vancouver, Canada for internet users to find using Google Earth's aerial photo program. It's like a giant, web-based, global Where's Waldo game!

It got me thinking back to the Where's Waldo craze and all of the Waldo-related things I had. We had all the books, a few posters, and even the video game. I used to spend hours reading the books and searching for Waldo, his dog, and all of his lost belongings! Now I'm really eager to start looking for Melanie's Waldo on Google Earth!

Also, as a random silly sidenote, I'm ordering an ant farm for my desk at work! I'm really excited about it, actually, which probably seems nerdy beyond belief. But hey, that's me! Anyway, I'll be posting photos of my cubicle with my new "pets" as soon as they arrive, so be on the lookout for that. :) Read more!