Toxic Toys Still on Shelves Despite Recalls

December 2007

Even though millions of toys were recalled in 2007, 17 percent of toys still in stores may contain lead and other toxins. Children’s products including toys, jewelry, shoes, and more were found to be contaminated with lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury.

Mattel recalled millions of toys earlier this year, alerting America to the dangers of high lead levels. Even after Mattel’s massive recall, nearly two out of every 10 child products tested were found to contain lead levels above the federal recall standard. Jewelry, toys, shoes, and even backpacks have been discovered with high lead content.

Other dangerous toxic materials were found among children’s products. Over two percent of tested products contained toxic levels of arsenic, a poisonous chemical element. Unsafe levels of other hazardous heavy metals such as cadmium and mercury were also found in test products including toys and much more.