Majority of toys in Indian market contain toxic chemical: Study

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NEW DELHI: Next time you buy a toy for your little ones, be more cautious as a new study says many of them may contain a toxic chemical which can prove dangerous for children especially those below three years. 

A lab testing of random samples of various brands of toys available at Delhi markets found the presence of phthalates that can cause health disorders like allergy, asthma, skeletal defects, damage male reproductive system and impair lungs of children, Sunita Narain, director of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), told reporters here on Friday. 

The study by CSE found over 45 per cent of the samples exceeded internationally accepted safe limits for phthalates.  " What is shocking is that many brands had labels like 'non-toxic, safe for use'. Phthalates are chemicals used to soften plastic. So soft and inflatable toys can be more dangerous for the children who tend to put these in their mouth, " Chandra Bhushan, associate director of CSE, said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Majority-of-toys-in-Indian-market-contain-toxic-chemical-Study/articleshow/5449032.cms