Toxic Toys... Not Child's Play!

By Lisa Hunter Ryden

Last year, I discovered an interesting website which lists the toxic chemicals for various toys, and was able to do my holiday shopping for nontoxic toys using this website. In early December, I read a newspaper article that captured my interest because one in three of the children's toys tested were found to have significant levels of toxic chemicals including lead, flame retardants, and arsenic. The article went on to say that some of the toys on store shelves this holiday season would be illegal to sell by early next year. This left me feeling angry, so I posted this article far and wide to all my yahoo groups. Having a son who has previously tested positive for seven metals in his urine toxicology screen, with the highest being lead and mercury, I was even more outraged.

One of the toys which he has used for hours, and takes with him everywhere is the Leapster Learning Game System by LeapFrog. We found that the carry case and the toy both contained high levels of toxic metals.  I first tried to return them to Target.  While the store was understanding, they said that the best I could do was exchange them for another Leapster because I had no receipt and they are several months old.  So, I decided to send the company a letter.  Here is what I wrote:

Dear LeapFrog Customer Service,

We have successfully used your products with both of our sons, ages 4 and 8.  Recently, however we discovered the Leapster 2 toys and carry cases were contaminated with high levels of lead, arsenic, mercury, bromine, and chromium. 

Our oldest son is on the autism spectrum, and you may be aware that these children often cannot clear toxic metals from their bodies.(HERE) My son is toxic in lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, tin, aluminum, and antimony.

I am not attributing his toxic metal accumulation to one single toy, but we are actively removing all sources of metals from his toys, food, water and household items.  I tried to return both carry cases and Leapsters to my local Target, where I purchased them last year.  They are no longer selling either item.  Would it be possible to get a refund for these products or a credit for another LeapFrog product that does not contain toxic metals?

Autism now affects 1 in 67 children.  It is the fastest growing epidemic, likely caused by a genetic predisposition and environmental trigger.  Autism is a neuro-immune disorder, characterized by loss of socialization and many abnormal laboratory findings including impaired ability to clear toxins due to low glutathione synthesis and failure in the methylation pathway.  Thank you for your understanding and concern.  Your products have really helped our son with fine motor skills and academic skills.  I know the autism community is very focused on safe toys, and would appreciate your action.

I received a prompt response from LeapSter on email.  Here is what the Customer Service representative wrote:

Dear Lisa,

LeapFrog disputes the results of this report, and the testing methodology used.
LeapFrog’s complete line of learning products, including accessories, is designed and tested to exceed the strictest safety requirements for children's products. LeapFrog has substantive and certified testing results from a third-party lab that verifies the Leapster2 carry case well exceeds all safety requirements, in both the United States and Europe. As part of our ongoing testing procedure, the Leapster2 carrying case was most recently tested in October 2008.

The report from (name omitted) is based on results from a handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) device. These machines are known to produce questionable results. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission will soon conduct, “a study to evaluate the effectiveness, precision and reliability of XRF technology”.

LeapFrog is committed to, and we stand behind, the safety and quality of our educational products.

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

What, no refund or credit?  Clearly, they do not believe the customer is always right but are more intent on proving that their toys are safe.  Still not satisfied, I emailed the company who did the environmental testing using the XRF technology.  I received an immediate response.  This is what it said:

They (LeapFrog) have never provided any data showing our test results are inaccurate.  We have repeatedly tested the case and have gotten the same result.  The test method they mentioned are not comparable to the test we run with the XRF.  They are citing extraction test results (how much is release under certain conditions) but our test actually shows the quantity of lead in the material itself.  A product can comply with CPSC requirements but still have lead present.  Most of the certified test labs are now using XRF to test products, so I have no idea what they are referring to about XRF test uncertainty.  We believe the is no excuse for putting lead in children's products, including hiding behind regulations that are not adequate.

I asked this kind individual if I could post this information to defend their testing method and company.  He said he would prefer that I did not use his name because they have received legal threats from toy manufacturers for publishing their findings to the public.  I don’t have time to research XRF or other safety testing methods that toy manufacturers are using to assess safety, and have not found the standards listed anywhere.  Today, I saw this interesting article on yahoo: (HERE)

WASHINGTON – Toy maker Mattel Inc. and its Fisher-Price subsidiary have agreed to pay a $2.3 million civil penalty for importing and selling toys with excessive levels of lead. The penalty is part of a settlement the companies reached with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which announced Friday, that the toymaker had knowingly violated a 30-year-old federal ban on lead paint in toys. The companies deny having willfully violated the ban. The penalty stems from a series of recalls by Mattel and Fisher-Price in 2007, when the companies recalled nearly 2 million popular Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and other toys because of excessive levels of lead found in the paint on the toys. Barbie doll accessories and "Sarge" toy cars were also part of the recalls. The commission says the fine is the biggest for a lead paint violation involving children's toys. Mattel and Fisher-Price were among dozens of manufacturers that yanked millions of Chinese-made toys from store shelves in the months leading up to the 2007 holiday shopping season. The recalls made parents uneasy as they shopped for gifts for small children…Lead poisoning in children can cause neurological damage, delayed mental and physical development, learning deficiencies, and other problems.

I don’t have time to be an investigative reporter, because I am a mother to a son with autism.  But, I do have time to reveal injustices, especially when they affect our children who have fragile immune systems and impaired methyllation pathways so that they cannot clear toxins.  Then I remember, toy manufacturers are big corporations with big profits. 

This type of scrutiny can hurt their profits. We are consumers, and we are not powerless.  We can choose to not buy their toys, or speak up about toxic toys. 

Lisa Hunter Ryden, MBA has a degree in medical technology and post graduate coursework in microbiology, molecular genetics and immunology. She began her career as a clinical medical technologist and has spent the past 20 years in the medical diagnostics industry. She communicates her extensive knowledge of biomedical treatment to the autism community as a means to help physicians and parents develop a best practices model and develop a partnership to recover their children. Lisa has been featured on Autism One Radio, given numerous public presentations on autism biomedical treatment, written several articles, and served as a parent advocate in political and legislative autism issues. Lisa and her husband have two boys. Their oldest son, Jake, suffered autistic regression at age 12 months, and was nonverbal until age 5. Today at age 8, he is recovering from his symptoms, speaking in sentences, writing, and learning to read. Lisa believes that many cases of autistic regression are treatable, and recovery is possible.

Comments

[Benedetta Stilwell]

That is what I meant when I said you were SMART. AND YOU ARE!

[healthy toys]

Does anyone know where to rent one of these to do at home?
http://www.niton.com/Toys-Consumer-Goods-Screening-with-Handheld-XRF/

Thanks!

[Lisa]

Thanks for everyone's comments here! My next step is to rent a "high quality, approved" testing instrument or find a service to test the metals in my home (not just toys, but dishes and other items). I will be happy to share those results in a follow up article in a few months.

For CM- arsenic in our son came from non-organic chicken he was eating. Antimony came from flame retardant mattress.

For B Stillwell- I was flaming mad, trust me, but I knew that if my letter was written with diplomacy I would be more likely to receive a response.

Dr. Sandra- Thanks for the excellent resource on lead babies

Drew- would you be willing to provide your contact info when your products are ready

Super Angry Mom- yes, agreed!

Thanks again everyone for your support,
Lisa

[Super angry mom]

"....if I had found lead in my child's toy case,I could not have written such a civil letter to the toy company!"

You must be kidding. Nothing quite compares with the CDC and pediatricians willingly allowing mercury and aluminum, both known neuro-toxins, to be injected directly into your child's bloodstream and from there into his brain. Lead in toys pales in comparison! Oh, and then hiding and continuing to hide that fact from parents.

[Benedetta Stilwell]

Lisa you are a very nice and smart person, if I had found lead in my child's toy case,I could not have written such a civil letter to the toy company!

[healthy toys]

A list of some toys which have been tested using XRF is located at:

www.healthytoys.org

[Ginger Lee]

Please do tell us the website with list of toxic toys!!
Thanks
Ginger

[mystolenchild]

"My four year old son used to love to play with the Little Tykes foam bath letters from about the age of 18 months until he was three. He would even enjoy chewing on them because of their texture. I was extremely upset when the forbes.com article on toxic toys came out late last year, revealing that the Little Tykes brand has over 450 ppm/mercury. I know that this toy alone isn't the cause of his autism, but who knows how much more neurological damage it probably caused?"

Well thanks for the info... My autistic son has been also playing with these in the tub for the last five years....

[Dr. Sandra Cottingham]

Lisa,
The idea of such toxins in toys makes my stomach turn, especially after having just completed a book about the effects of lead, and the synergistic interaction between lead and mercury. What's even more alarming than the damage these youngsters are sustaining, is the fact that they will carry forward their life's accumulated body burden, and pass that on to do damage to their children. There is not enough awareness about the issue of in-utero exposure.
Also interesting is the link between lead and the infertility epidemic in this country - for men and woman.

I have really tried hard to make "Lead Babies" an empowering book about what parents and parents-to-be can do to protect the next generation, as well as their families here and now. There is lots they can do.

I really enjoyed your article and will be referring my readers to it.

Many thanks,

Dr. Sandra Cottingham
www.nomoreleadbabies.com

LEAD BABIES
Breaking the cycle of learning disabilities, declining IQ, ADHD, behavior problems, and autism

Authors: Joanna Cerazy M.Ed. and Sandra Cottingham Ph.D

[Benedetta Stilwell]

To ship toys from China, knowing how cheap they were made and not check them out is not just crimnal but really stupid business practice.

Possibly making your customers sick. Some one needs to tell them the story about what happens when you kill the goose that lays golden eggs!

And we wonder what is wrong with the economy -why- it is run by people not only cruel, greedy,going for the quick buck but also so stupid as not to know this will run their future.

[rileysmom]

Riley tested high in lead a number of years ago. I remember the doctor asking "Do you have lead paint in your home?" No our house was only 6 yrs old at the time. I never could put my finger on way his lead was so high.
We had him tested again this past year and still the lead levels are high.
This is disgusting. Starting tomorrow, I will be "cleaning house".

[CM]

Lisa, thanks for sharing this. I kept wondering where all the arsenic was coming from. I've seen several parents report that their children had high arsenic levels (in addition to aluminum, mercury, and lead), but they all said they had no idea where the arsenic could be coming from.

Excellent point Tanners Dad!

[Bonnie]

My four year old son used to love to play with the Little Tykes foam bath letters from about the age of 18 months until he was three. He would even enjoy chewing on them because of their texture. I was extremely upset when the forbes.com article on toxic toys came out late last year, revealing that the Little Tykes brand has over 450 ppm/mercury. I know that this toy alone isn't the cause of his autism, but who knows how much more neurological damage it probably caused?

[Kecia]

My younger son (NT) received a tool box set from his grandparents for his birthday from Ace Hardware. My MIL called a couple of weeks ago to let me know that a number of the pieces in the tool kit were recalled due to high lead levels. She was upset that my kids were playing with it for months before we knew. And she wouldn't have any idea it was recalled if she wasn't the business owner (they own the Ace)so they would of just kept on playing with it. Makes me wonder how many others there are sitting in our toy box. My son on the spectrum has high levels of lead....wonder why??!!!

[Gatogorra]

Funny, I haven't seen a dime of that million dollar court award to compensate us for the cost of detoxing our kids from certain metals which we KNOW came from toys.

My mother worked in advertising for forty years. She always said that the most evil clients to work for were the makers of children's products. To her mind, the more a huge corporation is associated with cuteness, kids, safety, family, fun, health, etc., the higher the potential for conniving and fraud.

Two heads of the CPSC in a row-- which is directly complicit in lead-laced toys reaching our children-- were found to have taken about $60,000 off of toy makers to let the violations slide. 60 grand to sell out or kids-- what a bargain for the toy companies.

Thank God for independent toy makers and these activist groups which alert the public.

[K Fuller Yuba City]

Tanners Dad hit the nail on the head. What good is free health care if we continue to make our children sick?
We would need less health care if the over site into what we allow manufacturing companies to use in their products. I would pay more for safe things. Our children are paying more with their ill health and lives because of all or the toxic things we use everyday. Our country went nuts last year over tainted Dog food!

[Cathy Jameson]

I cannot believe the timing of your article. My husband and I are baffled at why our kids are still sick--gut issues, brain fog, non-responders to various 'magic bullet' treatments that other children make leaps and bounds with. Our concern is that there is something in our house that we haven't cleared--could it be the new bottled water we switched to? Water the kids bathe in--supplied from our county known to have lead problems (they blame it on the pipes in individual houses, but when all houses tested come back with positive lead results...hmmm). The air quality--we live less tha 1 mile from several tobacco farms. Is it the non-organic food we buy since the really good organic food is sometimes out of our budget? Could it be the toys??? We have five kids. We have many toys, some LeapFrog toys, games, activities for various ages and stages. Every room in the house is kid-friendly with some kind of manufactured toy waiting to be played with.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I went to bed last night wondering about who I can call to get our house tested. I'll have to do a google search to find someone reputable in our area.

I hope those companies that create products in question wake up and realize the destruction they are advertising to our children can do serious damage--to their reputations and to our fragile children. Hiding results of toxic testing is no way to build trust with a generation of parents already suffering because of their children's health. No amount of advertising dollars will get them out of that.

[Drew]

Lisa- I am a physicist who works in XRF. These tests CAN be done incorrectly, and there is some contention about how BEST to handle the tests, but in general, if a test is done right, XRF if VERY reliable. Mattel uses a Thermo Niton instrument (they have 6 that I know of) and these are excellent instruments, very similar to the Innov-X instruments and others, which are thoroughly tested and self-calibrate every 4 hours of testing.

I have started a company to make low cost instruments like this ($10k vs. $36k for current instrument) hoping that we can get these instruments into many more hands and get many more toys testing- also bedding, shoes, costume jewelry, clothing, placewares, childrens furniture, etc.

[Tanners Dad]

Thank you Lisa. I know that the toy issue is one of the saddest. To give a child something known to be toxic for a few extra pennies. Oh wait a minute that is what we are doing to our air water food and vaccines. We can spend trillions on healthcare reform but until we stop getting sicker as a nation we are on the road to bankruptcy & extinction