Toys considered dangerous, according to U.S. Public Interest Research Group's 28th annual Trouble in Toyland report, are displayed during a news conference in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013. Several toys with high lead levels or toys that could cause young children to choke were found at major retailers and discount stores in the last few months, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group said Tuesday. The consumer safety group analyzed 50 toys for its annual report. Violations were found in just under a dozen, including a Captain America toy shield and play jewelry.
I report on energy and the environment for StateImpact Pennsylvania at WITF.
My work focuses on responses and solutions to climate change in the state legislature and communities around the state. I trace my interest in these issues back to my time as a Girl Scout and this episode of Rocko’s Modern Life.
I look forward to winter just for the chance to ski a few times each season. I try to keep myself from doom-scrolling on my phone by keeping my hands busy knitting and learning to play the piano.
I grew up in Cambria County, Pa. and graduated from Temple University. I started at WITF just after Christmas in 2014.
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Toys considered dangerous, according to U.S. Public Interest Research Group's 28th annual Trouble in Toyland report, are displayed during a news conference in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013. Several toys with high lead levels or toys that could cause young children to choke were found at major retailers and discount stores in the last few months, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group said Tuesday. The consumer safety group analyzed 50 toys for its annual report. Violations were found in just under a dozen, including a Captain America toy shield and play jewelry.
(Harrisburg) — Ahead of the holiday shopping season, a consumer safety organization is warning about three types of dangers around toys.
The 34th annual Trouble in Toyland report from the Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group (PennPIRG) highlights dangers that parents can detect, hidden toxics, and recalls.
PennPIRG’s Emma Horst-Martz said slime has become a popular toy. But, for the second year in a row, all four slime products they tested exceeded the European Union’s safety standards for levels of borax, which contains boron.
“Boron is also a product included in rat poison and ant killer,” Horst-Martz said. “Not something we want our children to be ingesting.”
Horst-Martz recommended parents test toys for choking hazards by seeing if objects can fit through a cardboard toilet paper tube.
For noisy toys, she said parents should test it by holding the toy close to their face–like a child would–and playing the toy’s sound.
“And if it’s too loud for you, then it’s definitely too loud for your child and can damage their developing hearing,” Horst-Martz said.
People buying gifts can also find information on recalled toys by visiting saferproducts.gov.
In 2017, more than 250,000 children were treated in emergency rooms across the country for toy-related injuries.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
