VPIRG Issues Annual Toy Warning

Montpelier, Vermont - November 25, 2008

As people make their holiday shopping lists, environmental advocates are warning about hazards that may be lurking in kids' toys.

VPIRG released its 23rd annual "Trouble in Toyland" report. It says 18 children died from toy-related injuries in 2007.

Last year emergency rooms treated 80,000 children for choking on small objects. And toxins like lead and phthalates -- which can gradually build up in a child's system, can be found in many metal and plastic toys.

"With the choking stay away from small parts. With the toxins stay away from soft pliable plastic toys which have the plasticizers phthalates; stay away from small metal jewelry, costume jewelry, a lot of that has hazardous levels of lead in it," said Claire Howard, of VPIRG.

VPIRG says safe options are cloth, wood and non-plastic toys, and locally made toys not imported from unknown sources.

Read Trouble in Toyland Report here