Many types of toys for children contain toxic chemicals
Recently, information about many rubber ducks sold online in China being discovered to contain many phthalic acid esters (PAEs) - a chemical that is harmful to the reproductive system has caused public confusion, especially parents with young children.
Accordingly, this substance can be released when exposed to hot water or shampoo, then enter the human body through the respiratory tract, digestion and skin. This chemical plays a similar role to female hormones, which can reduce sperm quality, leading to infertility in men, especially for boys in the stage of development and sexual completion.
In front of these toxic ducks, many toys for children were also discovered to have many chemicals affecting the reproductive system of young children, even causing cancer.
For example, not long ago, the European Union (EU)'s Rapex warning system included stickers printed with cartoon characters, superheroes... in the danger list. The agency has repeatedly requested the recall of Chinese toy sticks containing toxic substances.
In Vietnam, according to the testing results of the Commodity Quality Management Department (General Department of Quality Measurement, Ministry of Science and Technology), similar patches originating from China were also discovered containing Phthalate toxin, exceeding 480 times the safety threshold.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh, former staff of the Institute of Food Technology and Biotechnology (Hanoi University of Science and Technology), Phthalate is a group of substances, used as an additive to increase the flexibility and elasticity of the product. When entering the body, Phthalate can disrupt the functioning of hormonal glands.
For children when exposed to this group of substances, the risk of asthma and allergies is very high. More dangerously, this group of substances can affect men's fertility, and can even cause infertility. girls infected with Phthalate are at risk of early labor.
It is worth mentioning that this group of substances was previously discovered by authorities in duck-shaped animals, reptiles, reindeer, fruit bulbs, flexible plastic seeds, etc.
Notes on choosing safe toys for children
According to Ms. Luu Lien Huong, Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine, the group of toxic toys often focuses on the group of light-emitting toys, running on batteries; group of weapons toys; group of toys made of cotton, dolls, models; group of beauty toys, makeup, fake nails, wristbands; group of cooking toys; group of toys made of makeup, masks; group of musical toys: horn, blown, drums; group of toys made of rubber; group of sticker pieces.
For young children, the immune system is still weak and is very susceptible to attacks by external agents causing disease, in which, toys without clear origin, origin or ingredients are also one of the agents that can harm the baby.
Therefore, parents need to be alert when choosing toys for their children, should not like cheap toys on the sidewalk or the road because these types can be made from recycled materials or contain toxic chemicals and additives to create color and durability for the product.
Parents should choose reputable toy brands and only buy toys at quality stores. Do not choose toys with colors that are too eye-catching, wonky or colorful when holding them. When buying, you need to check the ingredients and materials of the toys. Best made of wood.
