PVCs and Fisher Price

[emma_in_dream]

Pearl is very keen on Fisher Price Little People. I like them too - they are the right shape and size for her and they are very gender neutral as all the characters are basically the same shape (including the dog).

But then, alas, I saw that both Healthystuff.org and Zrecommends.com had given them low ratings for safety. Damnit. Apparently they are high in chlorine which is measured as a proxy for PVC.

So I wrote to Fisher Price in Australia and I got back the usual kind of answer. Ie. we meet the regulatory standards and PVC is in everything and it is safe, or at least there is no evidence that it isn’t.

Fisher Price letter




Dear Emma,

Thank you for contacting us, we appreciate the opportunity to respond.

Mattel's primary concern is the safety of children using our products.
We will only use ingredients deemed safe by regulatory agencies around
the world. As a matter of practice, Mattel meets the strictest standards
established in individual regions and applies these standards on a
global level.
Mattel is committed to providing consumers with the safest possible
products and uses only materials that have been carefully tested and
approved by U.S. Government agencies. Our research and that of the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) and the Environmental Agency in Great Britain directly
contradict the claims made by Greenpeace.

According to the FDA, the CPSC and GBEA, the soft plastic used in some
of our toys is completely safe for use by children of any age. PVC has
been used for more than 50 years and is the most tested plastic in the
world. The CPSC reviewed information from Greenpeace and found nothing
that substantiated any danger to the consumer from PVC.

All of our products are non-toxic. Although our products are non-toxic,
it is possible for an individual to experience an irritation (allergic
reaction) to a specific ingredient. Mattel meets or exceeds all safety
guidelines developed and enforced by the Consumer Product Safety
Commission, a government regulatory agency.





Regards

Chris
Mattel Pty Ltd
Consumer Relations Department
Ph 1300135312
Email infoaust@mattel.com




I do not know enough to make any kind of reasonable decision. My understanding is:

PVC is toxic to make and to dispose of (ie. bad for the manufacturers and those around them).
PVC is not recyclable.
PVC emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
PVC becomes most dangerous to us when phthalates are added to it to make it softer.  This softer version of PVC is the sort used in children’s toys. Phthalates can cause harm to the reproductive system of both males and females.

And it’s ubiquitous. I really don’t know what to do.