Why give our old toys to children can be dangerous ?

fotomircea/Epictura

Published the 01.02.2018 at 14: 30

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Babies, cars, dinette, or other cubes, building… When you were a child, you may be found one day with the old toys from your parents hands. And you’re in the mood, today, to make your turn. However, a recent study, conducted by researchers from the University of Plymouth (Uk), and published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, shows that there may be danger.

The presence of chemical elements

To carry out this study, the researchers analyzed 26 types of toys. Trains, cars, plastic figures, puzzles… what are those typically found in families.

Observation: these old toys contain chemical elements risky for children, even at low dose. Among them chromium, lead, barium, selenium or antimony. Chromium, for example, is part of the category of heavy metals. It can cause diseases such as spongiform encephalopathies.

The standards

Today, these toys could not be marketed. Simply because they no longer meet the european standards in force. Children can put the old toys in the mouth and ingesting chemicals that are banned these days. According to dr. Andrew Turner, one of the lead researchers of the study interviewed by the BBC, there is a dangerous toy for children, which runs through in spite of all the generations: “the biggest failure comes from the LEGO bricks from the 1970s and 1980s. At that time, toys were not tested and we continue to use today.”

Pay attention to the label ” THIS “

Currently, those who bear the label “THIS” means that they are compliant with the safety requirements. But the label is affixed by the manufacturer himself. The directorate-general for competition, consumption and repression of fraud (DGCCRF) is responsible for verifying that the commitment of the manufacturer is well respected, with the controls imposed.

Less of endocrine disruptors

But vigilance is called for, even for toys recent. In the viewfinder, endocrine disruptors, present in the plastic. Some contain phthalates, for example, intended to soften the plastic. They can be toxic for reproduction, boys.