As parents, we want to do everything we can to make sure our kids are happy and healthy. Plastic toys and dolls seem to be everywhere, but should you be giving your kids these types of toys to play with?
We’ve all heard about the dangers of plastic for our health and for the environment in recent years. So are toys made of plastics safe for kids to play with?
We’re going to go over exactly what’s found in plastic toys, how these can affect our health, and what types of toys are safe for kids to play with.
Dangers of Plastic Toys
Just because many toys are made of plastic doesn’t mean they’re safe. In fact, most toys made of plastic have dangerous chemicals that aren’t safe for anyone, let alone growing children.
Let’s look at a few examples of what you’ll find in plastic toys.
Phthalates are chemicals used in everything from plastic toys to cosmetic/beauty products to auto parts. These chemicals are used to make plastics feel softer and more flexible.
The problem with phthalates is they’ve been shown to have extremely negative health effects. These range from liver damage to kidney problems to ADHD to obesity. Exposure to phthalates at a young age has also been linked to low IQ, developmental disorders, and fertility issues.
While there are bans on using certain phthalates in children’s products, it isn’t a complete ban. Studies show that school supplies and other children’s products still contain levels of phthalates that exceed mandated limits.
BPA (Bisphenol A) is another common component in children’s toys. It’s found in plastic toys, baby bottles, cups, and more. It’s known to disrupt endocrine signaling and has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and abnormal hormone issues.
Fire retardants appear under a number of different chemical names including:
- Polybrominated diethyl ethers (PBDEs)
- Brominated ethanes (DBDPE, BTBPE, etc)
- Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs).
These chemicals are known to disrupt proper brain development and can directly affect behavior and neurological development.
One study examined a number of different plastic children’s toys ranging from dolls to race cars and found that they all contained high concentrations of these chemicals.
We’ve saved one of the worst for last: PVC. PVC is a particular type of plastic found virtually everywhere. It’s in toys, pipes, industrial products, school supplies, and more.
PVC is a huge source of phthalates, lead, and other harmful chemicals that have been linked to birth defects, infertility, cancer, and early onset puberty.
Are Plastic Toys Dangerous for Kids? You Decide
Plastic toys have only a few regulations on what can be in them. And even those regulations don’t prevent harmful chemicals like the ones we’ve mentioned from being used. After reading everything we’ve gone over, you can decide for yourself whether plastic toys are safe for your kids to play with.
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