Health assessment of Toys
Every day, a myriad of teething rings, dolls, toy cars, puzzle pieces and balls pass through children’s hands and mouths. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment assesses the risks posed by ingredients to better protect children’s health.
What are the risks?
When playing, children may come into contact with various chemical substances via toys. Substances from toys can be released when they come into contact with the skin and, above all, when they are put in the mouth and can be absorbed by children. Furthermore, children may even chew off and swallow small amounts of materials used to make toys, such as paint. In the case of substances that emit into the ambient air, inhalation can also lead to absorption.
Potential substances with hazardous properties may include, for example, heavy metals, such as lead, which can be toxic to development, and cadmium, which can be toxic to the kidneys; they have been found in paints on toys. Another example are N-nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic and may be contained in balloons.
However, the occurrence of a substance in a toy does not necessarily that there is a health risk. In most cases, it is in fact significant whether or not the substance is released from the toy and can enter the body. The amount of a substance that can be absorbed from a toy, taking into account possible other sources of , is also significant. Therefore, substances contained in toys may only be released in quantities that shall not jeopardise health.
Frequently asked questions
What does the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment do?
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment assesses health risks that might originate from chemical substances in toys. It is provided with support on this from the "Toys" panel in the BfR Committee for Consumer Products. This committee comprises of national experts from control laboratories in the federal states, testing laboratories and industry working together to advise the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has already assessed of a number of substances in toys in terms of health risks. Among others, these include:
- Allergenic aromatic substances
- Boric acid in bouncing putty and slime
- Phthalate plasticisers
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment provides scientific advice to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) on developing standards for the EU Toy Safety Directive. As a result, it supports the establishment of health-based limits for substances in toys at EU level.