Impact of plastic toys on children’s health

There are many factors that influence the appropriate physical and mental growth of children. Playing is a key to keep children physically fit and develop their brains. Therefore, playing with toys is essential to healthy and normal childhood development. It enables children to connect all the elements of their life as they experience it. It is an outlet for their creativity.

Globally, many companies manufacture and supply different types of plastic toys. China is the top plastic toy manufacturing and exporting country in the world. Most of the manufacturers frequently produce new kinds of toys, considering children’s demands. Before 2010, Bangladesh imported US$600 million worth of toys annually, 95 percent of which came from China. Plastic toys for children include cars, dolls, toy animals, helicopters, remote-controlled vehicles, tent houses, balls and cricket bats.

Unlike textiles and readymade garments, toy manufacturing in Bangladesh primarily serves the domestic market, rather than importing. About 80 percent of local toys are made of plastic and the rest with paper, fabric and other materials. The manufacturers import plastic polyester chips as raw material for their finished products from China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The toys produced in this country are of equal quality as the imported toys from China. Many people prefer domestically produced toys; popular local toys are traditional dolls, ektara (stringed instrument), flutes and masks. However, locally produced toys are not sufficient in number.

Recently, the global plastic market has been dominated by the Chinese products due to inexpensive prices. Bangladeshi importers usually ask Chinese companies to provide plastic toys at the lowest price. As a result, they don’t maintain the quality of the toys. They add unregulated amounts of toxic chemicals and metals to reduce production costs, leading to health risks from exposure to such toys. Regretfully, people are not aware about the safety of toys and the impact they have on their children’s health. They never think about what plastic toys are really made of. Thus, unwittingly, children are exposed to many harmful chemicals simply because of the toys they play with.

Babies are given plastic teethers or toys from a young age to chew on to help soothe and ease their teething gums. The plastic teethers and toys are made of different types of polymers where many chemicals are added as supporting materials. However, most parents don’t realise that many plastic teethers and toys contain chemicals, such as bisphenolA (BPA), phthalates and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), that babies suck on and ingest while chewing on their toys.

Paints are very important in toy manufacturing because children prefer colourful things.  Different types of additives, such as heavy metals and organometallic compounds are added during production of plastic toys to get the required size, desired colours and strength, as well as minimize production cost. Commonly used toxic heavy metals in plastic toys are lead, chromium, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and antimony. High levels of heavy metal content are found in many soft plastic toys, namely those made in China, India and Nigeria.

Such toxic chemicals and heavy metals can be traced directly to some illnesses that babies and children are now experiencing. These include mental retardation, cancer, asthma, allergies, neurological disorders, anaemia, pulmonary congestions, gastrointestinal and skin diseases, along with damage to the brain, kidney, liver, and respiratory and central nervous systems. Furthermore, these toxic chemicals and metals are responsible for higher rates of learning and behavioural difficulties and intellectual impairment. They can also cause a host of reproductive problems, such as birth defects, congenital malformations and infertility, later in life.

There are dangers associated with high levels of exposure to these metals, so always make sure the paints in toys are water-based, which are not only safe for children, but they are also environment friendly. Otherwise, we can choose to buy wooden toys that are as natural as possible, without paint and lacquers. If we buy stuffed toys made of organic cotton, make sure it is certified organic and the toy is filled with either organic cotton or natural fibres.

It is mandatory to make children’s toys free of toxic chemicals and metals to ensure their safety. So, toys should be made from natural materials, not synthetic manmade materials. Obviously, there is a preference for natural materials that have been untreated and grown organically, such as organic cotton, natural rubber and untreated wood. There are many toy manufacturers who are getting on board and manufacturing environmentally friendly toys. Therefore, the materials used should be clearly mentioned on the toys and in suppliers’ details, so parents can be assured of the health impacts of the toys.

As parents, people need to demand better and safer products for their children. So, they need to ask where and how and with what materials their children’s toys are made of. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves so we can read labels and understand exactly what we are buying and bringing into our home. Finally, the relevant authorities of the government should take appropriate steps, and non-government organisations should come forward to create awareness among the people. n

The author is PhD researcher in Environmental Engineering at East China University of Science and Technology,

Shanghai, China.

Photos: Nabiulla Nabi, Internet.

Impact of plastic toys on childrens health

There are many factors that influence the appropriate physical and mental growth of children. Playing is a key to keep children physically fit and develop their brains. Therefore, playing with toys is essential to healthy and normal childhood development. It enables children to connect all the elements of their life as they experience it. It is an outlet for their creativity. Globally, many companies manufacture and supply different types of plastic toys. China is the top plastic toy manufacturing and exporting country in the world. Most of the manufacturers frequently produce new kinds of toys, considering childrens demands. Before 2010, Bangladesh imported US$600 million worth of toys annually, 95 percent of which came from China. Plastic toys for children include cars, dolls, toy animals, helicopters, remote-controlled vehicles, tent houses, balls and cricket bats. Unlike textiles and readymade garments, toy manufacturing in Bangladesh primarily serves the domestic market, rather than importing. About 80 percent of local toys are made of plastic and the rest with paper, fabric and other materials. The manufacturers import plastic polyester chips as raw material for their finished products from China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The toys produced in this country are of equal quality as the imported toys from China. Many people prefer domestically produced toys; popular local toys are traditional dolls, ektara (stringed instrument), flutes and masks. However, locally produced toys are not sufficient in number. Recently, the global plastic market has been dominated by the Chinese products due to inexpensive prices. Bangladeshi importers usually ask Chinese companies to provide plastic toys at the lowest price. As a result, they dont maintain the quality of the toys. They add unregulated amounts of toxic chemicals and metals to reduce production costs, leading to health risks from exposure to such toys. Regretfully, people are not aware about the safety of toys and the impact they have on their childrens health. They never think about what plastic toys are really made of. Thus, unwittingly, children are exposed to many harmful chemicals simply because of the toys they play with. Babies are given plastic teethers or toys from a young age to chew on to help soothe and ease their teething gums. The plastic teethers and toys are made of different types of polymers where many chemicals are added as supporting materials. However, most parents dont realise that many plastic teethers and toys contain chemicals, such as bisphenolA (BPA), phthalates and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), that babies suck on and ingest while chewing on their toys. Paints are very important in toy manufacturing because children prefer colourful things. Different types of additives, such as heavy metals and organometallic compounds are added during production of plastic toys to get the required size, desired colours and strength, as well as minimize production cost. Commonly used toxic heavy metals in plastic toys are lead, chromium, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and antimony. High levels of heavy metal content are found in many soft plastic toys, namely those made in China, India and Nigeria. Such toxic chemicals and heavy metals can be traced directly to some illnesses that babies and children are now experiencing. These include mental retardation, cancer, asthma, allergies, neurological disorders, anaemia, pulmonary congestions, gastrointestinal and skin diseases, along with damage to the brain, kidney, liver, and respiratory and central nervous systems. Furthermore, these toxic chemicals and metals are responsible for higher rates of learning and behavioural difficulties and intellectual impairment. They can also cause a host of reproductive problems, such as birth defects, congenital malformations and infertility, later in life. There are dangers associated with high levels of exposure to these metals, so always make sure the paints in toys are water-based, which are not only safe for children, but they are also environment friendly. Otherwise, we can choose to buy wooden toys that are as natural as possible, without paint and lacquers. If we buy stuffed toys made of organic cotton, make sure it is certified organic and the toy is filled with either organic cotton or natural fibres. It is mandatory to make childrens toys free of toxic chemicals and metals to ensure their safety. So, toys should be made from natural materials, not synthetic manmade materials. Obviously, there is a preference for natural materials that have been untreated and grown organically, such as organic cotton, natural rubber and untreated wood. There are many toy manufacturers who are getting on board and manufacturing environmentally friendly toys. Therefore, the materials used should be clearly mentioned on the toys and in suppliers details, so parents can be assured of the health impacts of the toys. As parents, people need to demand better and safer products for their children. So, they need to ask where and how and with what materials their childrens toys are made of. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves so we can read labels and understand exactly what we are buying and bringing into our home. Finally, the relevant authorities of the government should take appropriate steps, and non-government organisations should come forward to create awareness among the people. n The author is PhD researcher in Environmental Engineering at East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China. Photos: Nabiulla Nabi, Internet.