About HealthyToys.org
Using the Site
HealthyToys.org
2008 includes test results for over 1,500 toys and children's products.
In cases where toys had many different components (building blocks of
different colors, for example, or dolls with fabric and plastic), researchers
attempted to collect a useful number of samples from each toy. For this
reason, the data reflects over 4,500 individual samples of different product
components. The testing methodology used is an X-ray technology that identifies
elements on or near the surface of a product, called an XRF machine (see
methodology for more details) and
lab testing for lead. Based on these results, each product tested was
given an overall rating, as well as an individual
chemical rating. A detailed description of the rating system is provided
in the product rating section.
A summary of the rating system is below:
- Each toy is given a rating for six elements that represent the presence of chemicals of concern. Those elements are lead, bromine, mercury, cadmium, chlorine and arsenic. Products were assigned a low, medium or high level to indicate the relative level of a chemical in a product. The presence of chlorine above 10,000 ppm was determined to indicate that a product is made of PVC plastic. In this case, it is the material rather than the element that is of concern. These levels are not meant to correspond to levels known to cause health effects. In 2008, Congress passed the first law regulating lead and phthalates in children's toys. However, the law doesn't go into effect until next year, and does not regulate all of the chemicals of concern in children's products. In order to develop our rating system, HealthyToys.org consulted existing standards and voluntary guidelines for toys, packaging, or other products either in the United States or Europe.
- The overall toy rating of "low", "medium" or "high" was determined using the findings for each of the chemicals measured. A toy with one or more medium ratings and no high ratings was assigned a medium. A toy with just one high rating would get a high rating. For a low rating, the toy must have only low ratings. A low rating means chemicals were either not detected or were detected at very low levels.
- We also noted the presence of "other chemicals," which include tin, antimony, chromium and bromine, if we found those elements above 100 ppm. The presence of these chemicals was not calculated as part of the overall score because the form of the chemical in the product could not be determined and the toxicity can vary widely depending on the compound. The presence of these chemicals in children's products deserves more attention and research. In the overall score, we simply noted their presence with an asterisk next to the overall rating.
- Note: In addition to toxic chemicals, consumers should consider other issues, including other toy safety hazards when considering a toy or children's product purchase. Visit the Toy Safety page, as well as: http://www.uspirg.org/issues/toy-safety.
Other features of the HealthyToys.org site:
- You can search for your children's product using the search function, by the toy name, or generate a list of toys tested by brand or by toy type.
- You can keep and share a shopping list of toys using the website's list function.
- You can post our HealthyToys.org Search Widget on your blog or website.
- If your toy isn't on the database, and you'd like us to test it for you, just view our list and cast your vote or nominate your toy. We will regularly test the most requested toys.
- In other areas of the HealthyToys.org site you can Take Action, learn more about the details of our testing, or get additional information about chemicals. Explore the site and let us know what you think - we'd love to hear from you!
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 provide only 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.
