Holiday Toy Safety

In time for the holidays, the US Public Interest Research Group has just released their 2006 list of dangerous toys. There are the usual suspects of toys that may have choking hazards or dangerously loud noises, but two new threats show up this year. Increasingly popular are toys that contain small, high powered magnets. These magnets are so strong that  if two or more are ingested the attraction can pinch or even tear right through internal organs causing serious injury or death.  Heeding the risk, the Consumer Product Safety Commission yesterday recalled many of the popular Polly Pocket dolls because of the magnet danger.

The Public Interest Research Group also began testing toys for lead, and a surprising number of toy jewelry sets had alarmingly high rates of lead.

If you’re buying for your kids, grandkids or others, please take a few minutes to look over the list.