Published: April 27, 2022
Things like this make me want to SCREAM from the rooftops — or do something really outrageous (go on Instagram in a bikini?) to generate attention so that everyone listens.
IF you are reading this PLEASE share this with all of the new parents you know who were born in the 1980s and 1990s. There WAS NO comprehensive legislation – no Federal standards, regulations, or laws of any kind – requiring manufacturers to refrain from making and selling toxic children’s toys “back then.” Thus manufacturers were free to manufacture and market toys and other items intended for use by children legally incorporating any amount of a host of extremely poisonous substances — like metallic toxicants (Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Antimony, to mention just a few), recognized since ancient times to be extremely hazardous to humans — which they DID with reckless abandon…until 2008! [Well, in reality, for four more years, actually — because while that first serious Federal legislation was enacted in 2008… it was not fully enforceable until 2012!]
As a result, we have toys like the one pictured (a 1984 “Made In Mexico” Mattel brand teether / baby rattle) that are still in circulation (family hand-me-downs likely to be used by a child today – offered to children by parents not aware of the potential concerns) – toys that are incredibly toxic and unsafe for children.
This toy from 1984 tested positive for Lead, Cadmium, AND Arsenic – all at levels that are quite concerning (with unsafe levels of Lead found in all components but one!) Scroll down to see the full XRF test results for each accessible component of the toy.
Mattel (and other toy companies) are not required to issue recalls for vintage products. I found this toy at a grandma’s house —she had set it aside for her grandchildren to play with (it was her daughter’s when her daughter was a baby). Luckily, this grandma knew me and knew of my work and thought to have me test it before considering handing it down to her grandkids. [She also had this toxic toy at her home — another toy that used to belong to her children.]
Mattel doesn’t care.
Since big companies like Mattel don’t care enough (to issue voluntary recalls for their toxic vintage products that may still be in circulation / may be used by babies today) WE need to do the work instead. We (parents, grandparents, uncles, aunties) need to share this information with all of the young parents out there. We need to do it in a way that grabs their attention.
Why we need to generate awareness:
Lead-poisoning causes permanent brain damage, resulting in learning disabilities and many other health impairments (you can read more about the symptoms of Lead exposure here.) My children have permanent brain damage (and other life-long disabilities) from Lead exposure as babies — and, despite our love for our wonderful children, it is NOT an easy job to be their parents…every.single.day. for us…so many facets of their daily lives – and thus, parenting – is incredibly challenging! You DON”T want to let this happen to the babies in your life!
Letting a child chew on a baby toy that tests positive for a high level of Lead (on exactly the component where they can be expected to put the toy in their mouth) is unconscionable. If you see a child in your life is playing with a vintage toy – that may very well be toxic – please offer to replace it for them with a modern (regulated, safer, non-toxic) alternative.
MOST currently-manufactured toys — manufactured by major brands, and sold in major retail stores — should be safe for children [with the rare exception (here’s one recent exception!)]
So be confident in replacing vintage toys with new ones from reputable brands and stores (here are some ideas for safer modern toys for babies today.)
Full test results for the toy pictured
Reading #1) Yellow plastic components of toy
60-second test
- Lead (Pb): 2,691 +/- 36 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Bromine (Br): non-detect
- Antimony (Sb): non-detect
- Chromium (Cr): 550 +/- 50 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 145 +/- 8 ppm
- Arsenic (As): 107 +/- 23 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 1,238 +/- 190 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 179 +/- 90 ppm
- No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.
Continue reading below the image.
Reading #2) Green plastic components of toy
60-second test
- Lead (Pb): 280 +/- 11 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 1,309 +/- 21 ppm
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Arsenic (As): non-detect
- Antimony (Sb): non-detect
- Chromium (Cr): non-detect
- Bromine (Br): 4 +/- 2 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 364 +/- 12 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 1,876 +/- 111 ppm
- No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.
Continue reading below the image.
Reading #3) Blue plastic components of toy
60-second test
- Lead (Pb): 319 +/- 11 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Antimony (Sb): non-detect
- Chromium (Cr): non-detect
- Arsenic (As): non-detect
- Barium (Ba): non-detect
- Bromine (Br): 8 +/- 2 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 60 +/- 9 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 158 +/- 8 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 2,409 +/- 244 ppm
- No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.
Continue reading below the image.
Reading #4) White plastic components of toy
60-second test
- Lead (Pb): 431 +/- 13 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Antimony (Sb): non-detect
- Chromium (Cr): non-detect
- Arsenic (As): non-detect
- Barium (Ba): non-detect
- Bromine (Br): 7 +/- 2 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 295 +/- 11 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 6,391 +/- 282 ppm
- No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.
Continue reading below the image.
Reading #5) Pink plastic components of toy
60-second test
- Lead (Pb): 497 +/- 15 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Antimony (Sb): non-detect
- Chromium (Cr): non-detect
- Arsenic (As): non-detect
- Barium (Ba): non-detect
- Bromine (Br): 4 +/- 2 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 289 +/- 11 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 4,357 +/- 268 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 153 +/- 98 ppm
- No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.
Continue reading below the image.
Reading #6) Clear plastic components of toy
60-second test
- Lead (Pb): non-detect
- Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Antimony (Sb): non-detect
- Chromium (Cr): non-detect
- Arsenic (As): non-detect
- Barium (Ba): non-detect
- Barium (Ba): 227 +/- 111 ppm
- No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.
Some additional reading that might be of interest
- More test results of vintage plastic items.
- More test results of yellow plastic items.
- More test results of vintage toys.
- More test results of baby teethers.
- More test results of baby rattles.
- “Can I test toys myself at home?”
For those new to this website:
Tamara Rubin is a Federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. Tamara’s sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in August of 2005. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. Tamara uses XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals), including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic. All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times, to confirm the test results for each component tested and reported on. Please click through to this link to learn more about the testing methodology used for the test results discussed and reported on this website.
This makes me wonder how the hell did we even survive to adulthood? Yet it also makes me wonder how many issues we face in life could have lead as a significant contributor to them. So many people nowadays seem to have some type of mental illness, cancer, autoimmune disease, PCOS, kidney disease, heart disease, obesity etc. Lead exposure needs to be taken seriously as a contributor to these issues as stress, sedentary lifestyle, and diet are. Microplastics, “forever chemicals”, and air pollution is already being discussed more as contributors to these issues but lead seems like something from the past to most people. Another issue I have found the same resistance with is third-hand smoke which many people think is exaggerated or something OCD folks worry about.
I am glad that myself and my family have dodged most of these somehow. I do not have any children of my own because it seems like raising a kid properly in this day of age is extremely challenging, especially for someone who faces the kinds of challenges I do.
I currently live with my elderly mother and I don’t know what’s with the older generation, but her attitude about lead is like those antique Pyrex fans. I think “dealing with mom” is a thing that needs to be covered in this blog, if it hasn’t already, and especially for moms out there living with their own moms. I know my mom isn’t the only elderly person who is like “when I was a child I played with lead toys all the time” or “you chewed on these toys (like the one above) and you’re not dead and you have a college degree”. I am trying to swap out some things in our kitchen and she is being stubborn about it.
So yeah, I’m sure you’ve dealt with people like that before. I am sure families have been torn apart over issues about lead.
Is the middle-late 1990s manufactured toys ok to let my children play with or safer in the trash?
1999,1996…