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Annual 'Trouble In Toyland' Report Warns Of Toxins, Choking Hazards And 'Smart' Toys

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According to ConnPIRG's "Trouble In Toyland" report, this product contains high levels of boron and lacked clear warning labels. Ingesting moderate to high doses of boron can cause nausea, vomiting and other long-term damages.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group and staff from the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center to announce the 2019 “Trouble in Toyland” report this week. The annual list focuses on toys that pose a danger to children -- things like choking hazards, toxins, toys that are so loud they could damage a child’s hearing and recalled toys still on the market.

This is the 34th annual report. Petra Favorite, a campus organizer for ConnPIRG, says that over the years the report has made children safer.

“By revealing these threats, the report led to more than 150 toy recalls, resulted in legislation like the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, to remove threats from store shelves, and empowered parents to take key actions to ensure toys are safe,” said Favorite.

This year’s report warned of toy jewelry that may contain toxic metals like lead and cadmium, as well as toys targeted for adults like fidget spinners.

Another growing threat is makeup. The report found that makeup lacks necessary safety standards, and one brand of makeup was found to contain asbestos.

While Blumenthal mentioned perennial dangers to children’s safety, things like balloons and toy magnets, which are choking hazards, he also warned parents about the dangers of so-called “smart toys” -- toys that connect to the internet. Often these products collect private data about children, exposing their information to hackers.

“Invasion of privacy with toys is a real and present danger,” said Blumenthal. “Think about it -- a child’s voice with statements about age, food preferences, maybe where they like to go. All of it a part of big data.”

To see this year’s list of dangerous toys, go to Connpirg.org

Ray Hardman is Connecticut Public’s Arts and Culture Reporter. He is the host of CPTV’s Emmy-nominated original series Where Art Thou? Listeners to Connecticut Public Radio may know Ray as the local voice of Morning Edition, and later of All Things Considered.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.