Children's Plastic Toys

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is one of the most common materials for children's toys, especially teethers and soft squeeze toys for very young children. It is also used for beach balls, bath toys, raincoats and many other products. There are two components of these plastics that are a health concern – the PVC itself, and additives to the PVC. The manufacture of PVC and PVDC (polyvinylidene choloride) creates and disperses one of the most toxic human-made chemicals, dioxin. Dioxin enter the food chain where they are accumulate in fatty tissues of animals and humans. It is a known carcinogen. Dioxin may also affect children's development and damage immune functions.

'Plasticisers' called phthalates are added to PVC to make it soft and flexible. Phthalates come in different forms:

Phthalates are not bonded with the PVC so are able to leach out or release from the plastic. Phthalates are associated with a diversity of negative health impacts including reproductive defects, birth deformities, liver and thyroid damage, neurological impacts and miscarriages, and when inhaled can increase the risk or severity of asthma in children. Phthalates can leach out of toys and other plastic items when sucked by a child, when in contact with food, or when used in medical equipment.

Unfortunately phthalates are not the only additives to PVC that we have to worry about. Lead and cadmium are other hazardous additives which can be released as a toy degrades. Lead is associated with a range of behaviour disorders and learning disabilities and even low exposure can result in lifelong effects. Cadmium is a known carcinogen, and its levels build up in the body over time.

The vinyl chloride in PVC is a carcinogen and PVC releases dioxin into the air (outgases) for many years after manufacture. Dioxin is an endocrine disruptor.