PVC TOYS: SANTA RETURNS HAZARDOUS PVC TOYS TO INDUSTRY LEADERS.

He promises Greenpeace to keep them away from children.

Amsterdam, 18 November 1997

Santa Claus and Greenpeace delivered sacks full of hazardous PVC Toys to the Chairman of the World PVC Conference at the Grand Hotel today. His elves held up a sack stating "No PVC Toys." After Santa was refused entry to the Conference, he gave his message to Chairman Pierre Schevernels of the Limburgse Vinyl Maatschappij of Belgium, urging him to stop making vinyl.

Greenpeace assisted Santa and his elves in collecting the PVC toys planned for delivery this holiday season. Soft PVC toys contain hazardous additives that can leach from the toys.

Santa said to the leaders of the PVC industry "I checked my toy list and found plenty of hazardous PVC toys in it. You can't keep making vinyl toys, they're not good for children."

In September, Greenpeace released analyses of soft PVC toys and found that 71 toys from 17 countries around the world contained 10-40% by weight of hazardous chemicals (softeners called phthalates) (1). Further tests conducted by independent laboratories in the US found that many soft PVC children's products contain high levels of the hazardous metals lead and cadmium (2).

The dominant softener found in the toys tested by Greenpeace has been shown in previous studies (3) to be toxic when ingested by animals. Effects ranging from liver and kidney damage to reproductive abnormalities were identified. Another recent study (4) also indicates that the most abundant phthalate found in the Greenpeace analyses shows some capacity to weakly mimic the hormone oestrogen (5).

"The PVC and toy industries must take responsibility for the health of babies and children. Greenpeace demands that soft PVC toys be withdrawn immediately", said Beverley Thorpe of Greenpeace.

In late July, the European Commission launched an alert and warned member states of the potential dangers posed by soft PVC toys. In October, it also announced plans to review the tests currently used to determine the products' safety.

Last week, the Austrian Minister of Consumer Affairs, Barbara Prammer confirmed that her ministry will finalize a draft legal regulation regarding PVC toys by December 12. In October she issued a statement stating that PVC-free toys are desirable.

Recently, four countries have urged the toy industry to take action against soft PVC chewable baby toys. In April, July and October respectively, the Danish, Dutch, Belgian and Philippine governments warned toy retailers, distributors and manufacturers of the potential hazards of soft PVC toys which, when sucked or chewed, can leach hazardous softeners.

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.

- Beverley Thorpe or Lisa Finaldi, Greenpeace International, mobile ( +31) 06 53 66 29 70
- Luisa Colasimone, Greenpeace Communications, tel. (+31) 020 52 49 546
- Stills available from John Novis, Greenpeace Communications, tel. (+31) 020 52 49 580

(1)

"Determination of the Composition and Quantities of Phthalate Ester Additives in PVC Children's Toys", Greenpeace Research Laboratories, University of Exeter, Department of Biological Sciences, August 1997.

(2)

"Lead and Cadmium in Vinyl Children's Products. A Greenpeace Report", Joseph Di Gangi, Greenpeace, 1997.

(3)

Ema M., Kurosaka R., Amano H. & Ogawa Y. (1995) Comparative developmental toxicity of n-butyl benzyl phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate in rats. Arch Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 28: 223-228. * Myers B. A. (1991) 13-week subchronic dietary oral toxicity study with di(isononyl)phthalate in Fischer 344 rats (final report) with cover letter dated 05.20.92: Supplemental information. Hazelton Laboratories, Washington. EPA/OTS Doc #89-920000224. * Wine R. N., Li L. H., Barnes L. H. Gulati D. K., & Chapin R. E. (1997) Reproductive toxicity of di-n-butylphthalate in a continuous breeding protocol in Sprague-Dawley rats. Environ. Health Persp. 105(1): 102-107.

(4)

Jobling S., Reynolds T., White R., Parker M. G. & Sumpter J. P. (1995) A variety of environmentally persisting chemicals, including some phtalate plasticizers, are weakly estrogenic. Environmental Health Perspectives 103(6): 582-587.

(5)

The hormone system is an extremely sensitive chemical messenger system which regulates the development of the embryo, cell programming, organ development, brain function and behaviour, metabolism and immune system functions.

You better watch out
You better not lie
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town

I'm making a list and
I'm checking it twice
PVC toys are naughty, not nice
Don't put children at risk today!

Our kids just want to laugh and play
Their future is at stake
You can't keep making vinyl
It's not good for goodness sake

So you better watch out
You better not lie
This poison must stop
I'm telling you why
Greenpeace will always find out!

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