Consumer Group Outlines Dangerous Toys

By Alex Crichton

Rochester, NY – Even with new federal regulations in place that set new limits for lead and other chemical levels in toys, a local consumer activist says there are still plenty of dangerous toys filling store shelves again this holiday season.

For the 38th year, Judy Braiman with the Empire State Consumer Project has unveiled a number of toys her group considers "toxic," ones that contain heavy metals or are a choking hazard.
Braiman says her group found children's bracelets in the Rochester area that were particulary hazardous.

She says they found a level of cadmium of over 900-thousand parts per million.
The federal limit is 75 parts per million.
Cadmium is now regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

So what does Braiman consider a "safe toy"?

No small parts, no small edges, avoid anything that's been painted, or anything with long cords.

And Braiman advises when it comes to children's toys, "buy American."