Save your kids from toxic toys
One of the banes of industrialisation that we are forced to live with is chemical pollution. Within or without safe limits we have the presence of noxious chemicals in our water, air, soil and hence in our food. A recent study by a reputed Indian environmental group, Toxics Link, on how toxic are the toys our children play with, is an eye opener.
The study has reported the presence of lead and cadmium in toy samples collected from the major cities in the country. It warns that children chewing and sucking on PVC toys are potentially exposed to long-term health hazards.
Hence a rubber duck or a teething ring, which you might think is a harmless and a happy diversion for your child, may be poisoning and damaging his health irreparably.
The global toy market is estimated to be worth US $105 Bn. The United States is the biggest importer of toys and buys US$ 35 billion worth of toys annually and has 35% of the world market. Chinese are relatively new entrants into the global market contributing to 70% of the US$2.5 billion Indian market alone. Chinese toys have penetrated world wide for their exceptional imaginative designs and entertainment value.
The study about the toxicity of toys includes Chinese products among the unregulated manufacturers.
According to the study, toys produced in unregulated manufacturing conditions have been found to have cadmium, lead and other heavy metals, high levels of which can cause itching and allergies, even over a short term. Sustained exposure to these can damage liver and kidneys and cause memory loss. They are also known to cause dermatitis and wheezing, chest infections, movement disorders and convulsions.
Heavy metals also cause anaemia that has ripple effect on the nervous system, causing toxic metabolic encephalopathy. Any degenerative disorder of the brain is termed as an encephalopathy.
Besides, the study underlines, the soft squeeze toys like beach balls, bath toys, dolls, knapsacks, etc., have toxic additives like phthalates. Some phthalates have been known to cause cancer and damage liver and kidneys. Phthalates do not bind with PVC and can leach out easily. Since young children would put toys in their mouth, they are at potential risk.
Having known this and more on the state of our environment that our kids are inheriting, one gropes for solutions.
My yoga teacher has an answer though. “The Majority of you cannot leave your cities and towns which spew poison, but you surely can bring down toxic levels in your body by pranayama,” he says. Pranayama, being a part of yoga, is a set of breathing exercises which is known to reduce toxic levels and help improve our metabolic systems.
Teach your kids the simple techniques of yoga and save them from the scourge of chemical pollution that they have to live with.
Add comment September 22nd, 2006 Written By: lalitgambhir