Secondhand toys are convenient but health experts say they can be harmful for kids

Quite often, children receive hand-me-down toys from older siblings. Sometimes, we even save a toy for its sentimental value and pass it down to our kids. And while it’s a kind gesture to donate old toys that your child has outgrown to underprivileged kids, it might not be a good idea, after all. Reason being, according to a study, secondhand toys can cause health problems for kids. Experts shed light on the matter. 

The study

As per a study, scientists from the University of Plymouth, UK, examined 200 used plastic toys — including cars, figures and puzzles, from homes, nurseries and charity shops across Southwest England. All objects were small enough to be chewed by young kids. The study’s findings revealed that these playthings contained high concentrations of dangerous elements, including antimony, cadmium, chromium and lead. Interestingly, the toys that most often included these substances were yellow, red or black. When researchers conducted additional tests, they noted that several toys released quantities of bromine, cadmium or lead that surpassed limits set by the European Council’s Toy Safety Directive.

Lead study author, Andrew Turner said, “With the introduction and refinement of the Toy Safety Directive, the plastics industry has had to take steps to eliminate hazardous elements from new toys. However, consumers should be made more aware of the potential risks associated with small, mouthable and brightly coloured old plastic toys or components.” 

Expert speak

Dr Asmita Mahajan, consultant neonatologist and paediatrician, SL Raheja Hospital — A Fortis Associate, agrees with the study to a certain extent. “Toys don’t come with printed expiry dates, but they probably should. If plastic has degraded, it may pose as danger to the child, if ingested. Amongst kids, mouthing tendencies cannot be completely controlled. We have to try and ensure the old toys are properly sanitised and not degraded in any visible manner, before handing them to the child. Lead and such contents are harmful in any toy, be new or old. So, I will not attribute that to exclusively the secondhand nature of the toy, but to the quality of the original toy per se,” she reasons out. Though she hasn’t personally seen a child suffering from an illness caused due to use of a secondhand toy, she doesn’t deny that it’s possible.

Dr Vikrant Shah, internal medicine expert, Zen Multispecialty Hospital, agrees with the study. “There have been such studies earlier as well and its findings that have been scientifically proven. Toys made in Europe have a pretty high standard of manufacturing, they undergo plenty of testing, safety regulations and are of a much superior quality than what is manufactured in India. Having said that, it’s a known fact that toys made out of plastic over a period of time (after being passed on to a different child after every two to three years), lose their colour, sheen and basic properties, causing release of toxic chemicals present in them like cadmium, chromium, lead, etc. When there’s chronic contact with these toys like licking, sucking, biting, etc. it can cause harm However, note that the potential harm doesn’t occur with immediate contact.”

Cheap toys harmful?

The past few years witnessed a mass influx of cheap toys in the Indian market, most of which are made in China. These inexpensive toys come in a variety of types and colours, spoiling children and parents for choice and making it an attractive deal for a price-sensitive market like ours. While these toys are brand new, does it make them safer? 

“The paint on these toys can cause heavy metal poisoning. Therefore, these toys should be banned. Children can injure themselves from sharp edges of old broken toys made from plastic. And if it’s soft toys, children can get allergic reactions to it like sneezing, Rhinorrhea, asthma, etc. Also, they can get respiratory illnesses,” opines Dr Madhuri Kadam, pediatrician, SRV Hospital, further adding, “We commonly see such cases. But this is true with new toys as well. So whether these toys are old or new, they’re are equally bad for children’s health. The government should ban such China-made toys in interest of kids’ health. The colour and smell of these toys can cause allergic reactions like urticaria in them.”

Dr Mahajan says that cheap Chinese toys are not necessarily bad. But if they are using cheap colours and cheap plastic, plastic parts that are mouthable and contain Bisphenol-A or BPA (an estrogen-imitating chemical used to produce reusable plastic products), then they can be harmful. A simple clue that the toy is not of good quality is if the colour comes off easily, it colours your hands, etc, then we should definitely avoid those toys. Even international brands like Mattel had to recall their toys due to very high lead level. Legislation differs between countries and territories around the world. Each has its own set of specific requirements, which make the distribution of toys on a global level much more complex and difficult. One can read online how the commerce ministry of India revised the policy conditions for toy imports in 2017 and said that with immediate effect the inbound shipment of toys is allowed freely when accompanied with certain types of safety  certificates.