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Group Finds Fewer Toys With High Lead Levels

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The Associated Press

Published: December 4, 2008

NEW YORK - After the high-profile recalls of millions of lead-contaminated toys last year, a watchdog group said Wednesday that its tests found fewer toys with high levels of chemicals in them this year. But about a third of the toys tested still contained a worrisome level of chemicals.

Healthytoys.org, a project of The Ecology Center, a nonprofit environmental group based in Michigan, in collaboration with other groups, tested about 1,500 toys for a variety of chemicals, including lead, arsenic, cadmium and others. About half were similar to toys tested last year.

About one-third were found to have a significant level of chemicals, while two-thirds had low levels or none of the chemicals the group tested for. Lead was detected in 20 percent of toys, compared with 35 percent last year.

The toy industry, however, took issue with the group's testing methods and said that toy makers, the government and retailers have been working to improve safety standards.

About 3.5 percent of toys tested had lead levels above the current 600 parts per million federal standard that would trigger a recall of lead paint.

The Nintendo Wii tested high for bromine, which can be found in some flame retardants. A complete list can be found at www.healthytoys .org.

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