Carcinogenic pollutants in water toys

Consumer Center NRW warns of pollutants in the water toy

08/06/2013

Poison in waterballs and rubber ducks. The consumer center North Rhine-Westphalia claims to have in a study of water toys in every second product tested „questionable pollutants“ demonstrated, „who are under permanent influence suspected to be harmful to health.“ In part, the legal limits for harmful plasticisers (phthalates) in inflatable balls and animals have been exceeded by more than a hundredfold, reports the consumer protection organization.

The Verbraucherzentrale NRW carried out a pollutant analysis on twelve inflatable water toys made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and found that the prescribed limits for so-called plasticizers were exceeded many times. „Dangerous plasticizers are lurking in this durable plastic, which can dissolve through water, saliva and fats and damage the human body“, so the message of consumer advocates.

Every second water toy is polluted with pollutants
According to the consumer protection organization, among the plasticizers, phthalates are particularly critical because of their hormone-like action and potential reproductive effects. Total contained „one in two of the water toys purchased on the Internet via Amazon are harmful pollutants that are suspected of prolonged exposure to damage the liver, kidneys and the hormone balance and to cause cancer“, reports the consumer center NRW. Not clearly as „pollution-free“ Labeled products should therefore, in the opinion of the consumer advocates, be best avoided. Clues, „that the products meet the legal requirements, at least in terms of hazardous plasticizers“, According to the consumer advocates, such as „phthalate“ or „free from harmful plasticizers“. On the other hand offers the frequently to find CE mark according to statement of the consumer center NRW „no certainty, because this is not an independent seal of approval, but merely a mark of approval for the European market.“

Pollutant-loaded toy often recognizable by the smell
When identifying the potentially polluted water toys customers should „also to trust one's own nose“, because strongly smelling products are a possible indication of pollutants used, reports the NRW Consumer Center. Anyone who wants to know for sure can also exercise their right to information and to „Ask the dealer, manufacturer or importer if substances of very high concern are included in the coveted product“, explain the consumer advocates. For this only be „the number specified below the bar code GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) on the goods“, required. An appropriate request must „within 45 days - regardless of purchase - for free“ get answered. This duty to provide information applies according to the information provided by the consumer protection organization „for certain hazardous substances as soon as the concentration of a recognized toxic substance in the product exceeds one gram per kilogram.“

A water toy contained potential cancer triggers
In the current product test, the twelve water toys were tested in an accredited laboratory for six different phthalates, 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and eight organotin compounds. A check for possibly contained additional pollutants did not take place. The most gratifying result of the investigation was that only one water toy exceeded the limit value of the PAHs. The clearly classified as carcinogenic pollutants were therefore not included in the other products, but in view of the health risk actually all water toys without PAH should get along. In addition, five products had exceeded the limit value of health-endangering plasticizers and in a water ball, organotin compounds were found in addition to the phthalates. For the children's health, playing with such loaded bathing articles could be a significant health hazard in the long term.

Plastic children's products often contaminated with pollutants
In general, the contained pollutants in plastic children's products is a risk that should not be underestimated, which is being tackled very hesitantly by many manufacturers. Again and again, product tests detect dangerously high concentrations of plasticisers and other pollutants, but a full industry response is missing. For example, a recent study commissioned by the Bundestag faction of Alliance 90 / The Greens has revealed that a large proportion of children's toys, which are included as supplements in children's magazines, contain hazardous pollutants. Research of the „Westdeutscher Rundfunk“ (WDR) showed at the end of last month that the popular as a children's summer shoes plastic clogs contained some highly carcinogenic substances. Overall, there seems to be a greater awareness of the health risks posed by such ingredients in plastic products, and manufacturers, importers and distributors must also live up to their responsibility for the health of their customers or children. (Fp)

Picture: Rike