Greenpeace Erects Giant Building Blocks to Protest Vinyl Toys

["Greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

GREENPEACE ERECTS GIANT BUILDING BLOCKS AT NEW YORK TOY FAIR  TO
PROTEST VINYL TOYS

NEW YORK CITY, February 9, 1998 -- The environmental organization
Greenpeace today erected a pyramid of oversized children's toy
blocks spelling out "NO PVC TOYS," at the opening of the annual
American International Toy Fair in New York City.

Greenpeace has been protesting internationally the continued use of
vinyl (PVC) in children's products, including toys, which have been
shown to contain significant quantities of lead, cadmium and
chemical softeners known as phthalates.  

Independent studies commissioned by Greenpeace in 1997 revealed
that these materials, used to stabilize and soften vinyl products,
are not totally bound to the plastic, and can leach out when
children handle and chew on the toys.   

"We should not have to fear that our children's health will be
harmed by their toys," said Lisa Finaldi, Greenpeace Toxics
Campaigner.  "Greenpeace is calling on toy makers and retailers to
protect our children from the dangers of PVC by eliminating this
poison plastic from their products and store shelves." 

Lead poisoning is widely recognized to be one of the most serious
threats to children's health.  Even very small doses can cause
permanent damage to the nervous system and to intelligence. 
Cadmium is usually considered to be five to ten times more toxic
than lead.  

Phthalate softeners are toxic when ingested by animals, with health
effects ranging from tumors and liver and kidney damage to
reproductive abnormalities. 

In several countries, governments have urged manufacturers,
retailers, importers and licensors to stop selling soft vinyl toys
for children under age three.  Austria and Denmark will ban
hazardous additives in soft PVC.

In the US, a Greenpeace report published in October 1997 revealed
alarming levels of lead and cadmium in many PVC children's
products, prompting the Consumer Product Safety Commission to
request that manufacturers eliminate lead that can reach children
from household, school, and recreation products.

Despite these serious warnings, the Toy Manufacturers of America
and the large manufacturers such as Mattel and Hasbro continue to
defend vinyl toys and children's products, as evidenced by some of
the 1998 products introduced at the Toy Fair.

"What more will it take for these toy manufacturers to heed the
warnings?" said Greenpeace scientist Joe Di Gangi.  "Only profit
and greed could motivate them to ignore what responsible companies
already know: its time to get PVC out of children's products."

The entire life-cycle of PVC plastic is a polluting process.  Its
production involves highly toxic additives and generates hazardous
chlorinated emissions and wastes.  When burned in accidental fires
or incinerators, PVC products are a significant source of dioxin
and secondary hazardous wastes.   

-ENDS-

Greenpeace on the Internet at http://www.greenpeace.org
Rob Wiltzen
Greenbase Information Services
Greenpeace International