Parents’ unconditional love to children can harm their health seriously if they are not aware of toxic chemicals and heavy metals used in toys they provide to their children.
A toy with toxic materials can make their children disabled in learning, cause neurological damage, attention deficit disorder, respiratory problems and kidney failure.
A recent study title “Innocence touched by Shadows: Investigating toxic chemicals in toys” conducted by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) has found that toys available in Bangladeshi market contain high level of lead, mercury and cadmium. These three dangerous heavy metals are harmful for children’s health.
ESDO collected 40 samples from Bangladeshi market and sent them to Philippine and tested using XRF analyzer in the laboratory of Ben Toxic laboratory, anon-government organization.
Among samples, 50 percent of toys contain lead, 65 percent contain mercury and 100 percent samples contain cadmium.
Samples were collected from different areas of Dhaka. Among them 21 samples were produced by Bangladeshi producers including PRAN-RFL Group and Aarong, and 19 samples were imported from China, Thailand and Brazil. Among imported toys, 88 percent sample are imported from China.
The toys` average lead concentrations was 65.85 parts per Million (PPM), which exceeds the acceptable limit by about 5 times. Average Mercury concentration is 30.6 ppm, surpassing the limit by 4 times, and Cadmium concentration was 28.65 ppm, surpassing the limit by a significant 15 times.
In Bangladesh there is no standard set by the authorities however, European Union have standard for lead, mercury and cadmium in toys. According to the EU standard a toy can contain 13.5ppm lead, 7.5ppm mercury and 1.9ppm cadmium.
The study did not reveal the name and identity. For this reason, consumers still do not know which one they should buy and which one to avoid. However, an official from the Ben Toxic tried to give some hints to this reporter.
Tony Dizon, program Coordinator of Ben Toxic said The Report, “Toys with shiny color, painted toys especially yellow and red color contain high level of lead. Electronic toys those need batteries contain mercury and toys specially marbles and face masks contain cadmium.
Siddika Sultana, Executive Director of ESDO said, “It is very much possible that the producers, sellers and parents do not know about the harmfulness of these toys. We are trying to create awareness among them".
"As there is no limit of use of lead in paint. Thus, the paints used in the toys to make colorful add these heavy metals in toys".
Shahriar Hossain, secretary General of ESDO said, “Toys made from recycled plastic generally contain heavy metals. So toys made by recycled plastic contain heavy metals. These contaminated toys are available almost in every area of Dhaka including elite areas- Gulshan and Banani. So, no children is safe for using toys available in Bangladeshi market.
All three heavy metals, lead, mercury and cadmium decrease IQ and Cognitive function, impact in learning disabilities and reduce academic achievement, damage nervous system. Lead exposure has been linked to increase aggression, attention development of children, leading to stunted growth and delayed puberty and also can cause anemia.
These three heavy metal separately and together can damage the kidney and impair function. It can cause abdominal pain, constipation, and gastrointestinal issues
Lead exposure can result in tooth decay, and it can affect the development of a child teeth.
Mercury and cadmium exposure can lead to gastrointestinal problem, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Inhalation of mercury vapor can lead to respiratory problems, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Mercury exposure may suppress the immune system, making children more susceptible to infection and diseases.
Children under six years old are particularly vulnerable due to their critical developmental stage as well as sensitive use of oral system, that put them at risk of heavy metal exposure from contaminated toys.
Continuous ingestion of heavy metal through oral medium can pose serious health problems due to metal accumulation in the body.
Children`s unique characteristics, including higher metabolic rates, greater surface area to weight ratio, immature organ system , rapid growth and development, make them more susceptible to toxic exposure.
Dr Abdullah Faisal, Deputy Program Manager of the Department of Health said, “These heavy metals create health problems slowly. The effect is not visible from the very first day of exposure. If blood contains 5 microgram lead it will create problems. In tangail where many lead factories are situated, the children of that areas cannot understand the learnings in school compared to a general child.
Syed Marghub Murshed, Chairperson of ESDO said, “We are concentrating lead, mercury, cadmium and other heavy metals in toys. We want a healthy life for children by ending the use of toxic materials in the toys. We want to protect our children from poisoning".
"That is why a limit must be set for these heavy metals in toy making. The Ministry of environment can be involved in making laws, the ministry of industries should take care in the production phase and the ministry of commerce can look after the import process of these toxic toys", he added.
