Just before Christmas, the Stiftung Warentest examined 23 acoustic toys such as talking dolls, robots or animals. Seven of them did poorly, according to the December issue of the magazine "test". However, not because of technical defects, but because of questionable chemicals in the plastic.
The toys were tested for 240 substances. Most commonly, naphthalene was detected. This substance is suspected of causing cancer. Material samples from four toys even contained critical amounts and were rated as "poor". Three other loaded products got the grade "sufficient".
Naphthalene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) usually enter the toy via contaminated processing oils or dyes, explained Stiftung Warentest. Children can pick them up over the mouth or skin while playing. The concentrations found are not acutely toxic, it says in "test". However, some PAHs have long-term effects on the organism.
Tested according to stricter criteria
The legal requirements therefore keep all toys in the test, even the poor. "But for precautionary reasons, we evaluated the PAHs according to the stricter criteria of the GS mark for tested safety," explained Sara Wagner-Leifhelm, project manager at Stiftung Warentest. It was possible to meet these criteria - as demonstrated by the many unproblematic products in the test.
The only test winner with the grade "very good" is the Dreamtopia Barbie "Magical Hair Play Princess" from the Rainbow Kingdom. If you brush her hair or press a button, she plays a short song with a play of light. She received top marks in all categories. Five other toys finished with "good".
Tips for shopping
What should be considered when buying toys explains Ralf Diekmann vom Tüv Rheinland:
- Trusted Dealers: Diekmann recommends that you only buy from known or trusted merchants . At a weekly market or on the Internet at unknown traders can hardly understand under what conditions the product was made. Reputable sources will inform you on the packaging or on the website.
- Observe mandatory information: The standard information on the packaging includes the CE mark, the name of the manufacturer or importer as well as operating and care instructions - and all in German. The CE mark indicates that the product complies with EU directives. But that is a mere self-disclosure, so Diekmann, dangerous chemicals could still be present.
- Seal of approval: Diekmann recommends that you pay attention to test marks such as the GS mark or the ToxProof seal from Tüv Rheinland. They may only be awarded by independent test houses after successful tests. For electronic toys, there is the VDE mark, which is important for remote controlled cars.
- Privacy: So that the smart Teddy in the nursery is not a spy, advises Diekmann here to buy only from reputable sources. Parents should be aware that manufacturers often store usage data to further develop their product.
- Always on nose: Parents should check whether the plastic smells unpleasant. Is the music box too loud? Does the toy flash too brightly? Mothers and fathers can trust their senses. It is impossible to directly smell substances such as lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium, which are found in paints and polyesters, for example. But if something smells untypical of the material, that is an indication of harmful substances.
- Information in the net: The app Scan4Chem from the Federal Environment Agency collects answers from manufacturers who have already provided information on inquiries for "substances of very high concern". All you have to do is scan the barcode of the toy.
