Connecticut Public Interest Research Group Releases 2013 Trouble in Toyland Report
The Connecticut Public Interest Research Group (ConnPIRG) recently released its 28th Annual Trouble in Toyland report, stating that while progress has been made in recent years, dangerous and toxic toys can still be found on store shelves across the United States.
ConnPIRG’s research found toys for sale in toy stores, malls, and dollar stores with high levels of toxic chemicals such as lead, antimony, cadmium, and phthalates. Lead, antimony, cadmium, and phthalate chemicals such as DEHP and BBP are known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Companies offering products for sale in California containing these chemicals are required by Proposition 65 to provide consumers with a health hazard warning.
ConnPIRG advises parents to be proactive in protecting their children against potentially toxic toys, especially because the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) does not test all toys, and not all toys on store shelves meet CPSC safety standards. The full report can be found on the ConnPIRG Education Fund website.
The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers who, acting in the public interest, commence actions against businesses offering products for sale in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm without first providing the health hazard warning required by Proposition 65. Citizen enforcers bringing Proposition 65 actions in the public interest may obtain a Court Judgment imposing civil penalties, an injunction requiring reformulation of products, and/or provision of health hazard warnings. The Chanler Group has represented citizen enforcers of Proposition 65 for more than twenty years.