That cute little toy may not be as harmless as it looks. Some toys contain harmful
chemicals and metals like cadmium and lead, which can build up in the body over
time. HealthyToys.org hopes to fix this problem.
HealthyToys is a project by the nonprofit
Ecology Center and various local environmental groups across the country. The website’s
researchers test toys for toxins and post the results online. So far, over 1,000
toys have been studied. The entire testing database can be searched and sorted by
brand or toy name. If you find one of your child’s toys listed, you can read
its chemical composition, including levels of arsenic, cadmium, chlorine and mercury.
If you own a toy that isn’t in the site’s product database, you can
submit it to be tested. You can also read bulletins detailing the effects of different
toxins, discover healthier alternatives to chemicals, and learn ways to get involved
in making the toy industry safer for kids.
Toys are often not tested for dangerous chemicals before being sold to children.
Previously, consumers had no way of knowing if a product was unsafe and had to depend
on recalls to learn about faulty products. With HealthyToys, you can be proactive
about toy safety.
We’d love to hear from you.
If you know a web site that focuses on health, family, food or fun, email it to feedback@islandscene.com and we may review it for Island Scene Online.