The annual U.S. PIRG report, available on the web at www.toysafety.net, has resulted in more than 100 recalls and other enforcement actions in the last 17 years. Along with the 2002 report, U.S. PIRG announced plans to distribute a new "Tips for Toy Safety" brochure to help parents and caregivers avoid the most common toy hazards.

According to data released last week by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2001 there were an estimated 255,100 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. There were 25 reported toy-related deaths, including nine children who choked to death on balloons, toy balls, and small toys. "Children needlessly choke to death on toys, and toys that pose hazards to children can still be found on store shelves," said U.S. PIRG Consumer Associate Jen Thompson, an author of the report.

The annual PIRG Trouble in Toyland report highlights potential hazards posed by toys found during a survey of stores in October and November 2002. PIRG cautioned consumers about toy hazards in five categories: choking hazards including balloons, toxic chemicals, hearing loss hazards, scooter dangers, and purchasing toys on the Internet.

U.S. PIRG announced plans to distribute a new brochure, "Tips for Toy Safety," highlighting ways parents and toygivers may reduce toy-related hazards. The brochure is available from U.S. PIRG or downloadable from www.toysafety.net. "Remember that our toy list only provides a few examples of dangerous toys," Thompson said. "The most important list for consumers is the Tips for Toy Safety."

Download the tips page. (PDF)

Highlights of the report's findings:

Choking Hazards: Choking on small toy parts, balloons and small balls continues to be the leading cause of toy-related deaths. According to data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), at least 207 children died from 1990 to 2000 playing with toys. In 2001, 25 children died playing with toys, nine of those from choking. The 1994 Child Safety Protection Act required strict warning labels on toys intended for older children, if the toy contains small parts, marbles, or balls banned for children under 3 years old. Balloon warnings specify that balloons should be kept away from children under 8. U.S. PIRG announced plans to petition the CPSC to strengthen its rules so that rounded toys that are not balls are tested with the more stringent small ball test, rather than the small parts test. "Rounded objects, such as common toy foods, are more like small balls in their choking threats and should be subject to a stricter standard," Thompson said.

Toxic Chemical Hazards: Phthalates are added to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic toys as a softener. The chemicals are linked to liver and kidney damage, pose reproductive hazards for male infants and have already been banned by several European countries in toys for children under three. U.S. PIRG urged the CPSC to approve its recent petition to ban phthalates in products intended for children under five. The CPSC is expected to act shortly on the petition.

Hearing loss dangers: According to a 1998 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, almost 15 percent of children ages 6 to 17 show signs of hearing loss. No federal regulations regulate the noise level of toys, but toys with sounds of 85 decibels or over can significantly affect a child's hearing. Toy givers should be aware of the dangers posed by loud toys.

On-line Toy Sales: In an analysis of 45 online toy retailers, U.S. PIRG found that no online retailers posted the warnings required to appear on in-store products, and only two of the 45 included any safety labeling at all, and even these were not posted consistently. U.S. PIRG urged manufacturers to voluntarily provide Child Safety Protection Act warnings on the web and urged Congress to pass the Internet Toy Safety Awareness Act (H.R. 604), which would make Internet toy labeling mandatory.

"Shoppers should examine all toys carefully for hidden dangers before they make a purchase and should think about how a child would play with the toy," Thompson added. "While most manufacturers comply with the law, parents should not assume that all toys on store shelves are safe or adequately labeled. Consumers should get U.S. PIRG's Tips For Toy Safety on our web site, www.toysafety.net before shopping for toys this holiday season," she concluded.

U.S. PIRG is the national lobbying office for the state Public Interest Research Groups. State PIRGs are non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations.

The full report is available for $30 from U.S. PIRG, 218 D St. SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 or on the state PIRG toy safety web site, www.toysafety.net. Send e-mail to "[email protected]" for more information about PIRG consumer watchdog programs.