A qualitative study by BAN Toxics (Philippines) and the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) (Bangladesh) that examines the presence of hazardous chemicals in plastic toys sold in bargain shops, particularly those targeting low-income communities in Metro Manila and Dhaka. The study evaluates the potential health and environmental risks posed by these toys and offers policy recommendations to strengthen government regulation of hazardous toys.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Executive Summary

Children are highly vulnerable from environmental hazards. Within the human climate, notable chemicals of concern permeate across extensive product value chains, to which unfortunately does not exclude the toys that kids love. Childhood exposure to such environmental toxicants pose adverse health impacts that may lead to detrimental and lasting outcomes. As those within the younger demographic have little to none control of their environments and exhibit different behaviors than their adult counterparts, children only have limited agency to protect themselves from the hazards that can put them in grave danger. While policies have been set in place by global and national authorities, it remains that there exists a greater room for the improvement and harmonization of regulatory safeguards for children’s toys across the globe. 

Through the partnership of BAN Toxics and Environment and Social Development Organization, the study sought to explore the existing legal frameworks and current status of plastic toy commodities within their own communities. Results reveal that a significant number of the sampled toys do not adhere to various safety standards at the national and/or global levels of highly hazardous heavy metals, potentially subjecting children who interact with such toys at high risk. The alarming levels of toxicity in children’s toys found in Bangladesh and the Philippines shed light on the issues in the regulation of consumer toy products despite the comprehensive policies currently in place. Thus, the establishment of stricter policies focused on the regulation of the chemicals used in plastic toys must be the course of action; firmly underscoring the need to review and strengthen current measures and regulations, and to further probe into the present mechanisms within the transboundary movement of toys.

Methodology

  • A total of 257 light, inexpensive plastic children’s toys were collected from toy stores in Dhaka (Bangladesh) and Pasay, Manila, and Quezon City (Philippines) based on their perceived popularity and affordability, using qualitative methods due to limited data on local trade and distribution.
  • The samples were tested at the ESDO and BAN Toxics offices in Bangladesh and the Philippines using an Olympus Vanta C Series HH XRF Analyzer to screen for heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, as well as bromine and chlorine, due to their high concentrations and known health and environmental risks, with the first four listed among the WHO’s 10 chemicals of public health concern.
  • Data was compiled and analyzed using digital spreadsheet software, with production, distribution, and toy details encoded into a centralized database for reference. Each sample was categorized by location, label information, manufacturing details, and XRF results.

Results

  • The study finds that children in Bangladesh and the Philippines are at high risk of toxic health hazards due to chemicals in widely available, affordable toys that fail to meet safety standards, including heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and traces of bromine and chlorine.
  • The chemicals found in the sampled toys are linked with various health and environmental impacts.  
  • The presence of non-compliant toys in both markets—failing to meet basic regulatory requirements such as proper ingredient labeling, warnings labels, age-grade information, and country-of-origin details—highlights gaps in regulations. 
  • These regulatory issues demand immediate attention, as another finding of the study highlights the transboundary nature of the hazardous toy trade.
  • Toy market disproportionately affects low-income communities. With toys priced between Php 55 (USD 1) and PhP 192.50 (USD 3.50), these low-cost plastic products often bypass safety standards, putting households in poorer communities at greater risk of exposure to toxic chemicals.

Recommendations

  • National toy safety standards should align with international guidelines, incorporating stricter regulations on toxicity and improving enforcement.
  • Transparency and traceability measures, such as harmonized labeling of chemicals used in toy production, are essential for improving monitoring and control.
  • Enhancing enforcement of legal requirements for imported toys calls for stronger regulatory agencies and additional measures for manufacturers, importers, and distributors to prevent hazardous toys from entering the market.