KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | AkPIRG releases annual toy safety report
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According to AkPIRG's report, some toys on shelves still contain lead -- despite federal recalls of 1.3 million toys for lead paint this year alone. (File/KTUU-DT)by Channel 2 News staff
Saturday, November 28, 2009
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The Alaska Public Interest Research Group is warning parents to keep safety in mind when shopping for this year's hottest toys.
AkPIRG has released this year's "Trouble in Toyland" report, exposing toys that could be harmful for children. It focuses on three categories: toys that pose choking hazards, toys that are excessively loud and toys that contain toxic chemicals.
The report lists what consumers can look for to prevent purchasing a toy that may be a choking hazard. It says the No. 1 cause of toy related deaths is children choking on toys with small parts, small balls or balloons.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission bans the use of balls with a diameter smaller than 1.75 inches in toys for children under 3. Also, some toys tested for loudness exceeded 85 decibels, the safe standard set by the CPSC.
A number of toys still on the shelf were found to contain lead. Just this year, the CPSC has recalled 1.3 million toys that contain lead paint.
Last year, toy-related injuries sent more than 82,000 children under the age of 5 to the emergency room. AkPIRG says thanks to a new law overhauling the CPSC, some progress has been made on toy safety since then.
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