XRF test results for vintage (1970s?) Fisher Price “Movie Viewer” toy: 5,087 ppm Lead, 249 ppm Arsenic & 55 ppm Cadmium.

Published: July 12, 2022 – Tuesday

While this vintage Fisher Price “Movie Viewer” toy is not marked with the date it was purchased at an estate sale where most of the toys were from the early-to-mid 1970s – so it seems like guessing “1970s” for the date of this toy is about right (as with the previously posted vintage Fisher Price toy.)

It’s quite alarming to see the levels of Lead and Arsenic in this toy (and also to note that it tested positive for Cadmium). For context, 90 ppm Lead (& up) is considered unsafe and illegal in the paint, glaze or coating of a newly manufactured item intended for use by children & 100 ppm Lead and up is considered illegal in the substrate (which is the limit that would apply in this case given it is an unpainted plastic toy.) Please do note that Fisher Price has made public statements indicating they are aware of the toxicant concerns in their vintage products, stating these vintage products should *only* be used for decor (if at all). You can read that public statement here.

The brand new versions of these (they reissued the “Movie Viewer” as one of their classic / retro toys, c.  2014, although it does not look like a 2022 version is currently for sale) will be safe for children (any post-2012 new plastic toy made by a major, known brand should be safe from a toxicant perspective.) 

Continue reading below to see the full XRF test results for this toy. Also, here’s some additional reading that may be of interest:

• The “Vintage Toy” category of articles on this website.
• The “Vintage Plastic” category of articles on this website
• The “Vintage Yellow Plastic” category of articles on this website
• The “Fisher Price” category of articles on this website
• The “Vintage Fisher Price” category of articles on this website

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Reading #1) Red Plastic Handle
60-second test

• Lead (Pb): 5,087 +/- 65 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): 20 +/- 9 ppm
• Barium (Ba): 352 +/- 106 ppm
• Arsenic (As): 249 +/- 36 ppm
• Chromium (Cr): 933 +/- 66 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 496 +/- 15 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 477 +/- 191 ppm
• No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.

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Reading #2) Yellow Plastic of Film Cartridge
60-second test

• Lead (Pb): 1,386 +/- 29 ppm
• Arsenic (As): 147 +/- 20 ppm
• Chromium (Cr): 500 +/- 62 ppm
• Antimony (Sb): 59 +/- 21 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 191 +/- 10 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 4,458 +/- 291 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 49 +/- 20 ppm
• No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.

 

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Reading #3) White plastic main component of toy
60-second test

• Cadmium (Cd): 55 +/- 9 ppm
• Barium (Ba): 159 +/- 104 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 83 +/- 8 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 6,935 +/- 330 ppm
• No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.

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For those new to this website:

Tamara Rubin is a multiple-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 (and separate components) are each 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.

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