Toxic Toys Found

A recent study led by researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso found that 12% of children's toys purchased in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez region exceeded toxic-metal limits. The study screened 333 toys for hazardous metals, including lead, cadmium, and arsenic, and found that 78% of the toys contained at least one element of concern.

The research team acquired the toys from popular retail stores over an 11-month period, with 109 toys purchased in El Paso and 224 in Ciudad Juárez. The toys were then tested using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), a technique that quickly reveals the elemental makeup of a material's surface.

Nickel was found to be a common element in the toys, appearing in more than a third of all samples. Lead was detected in 3% of the toys, mostly in inexpensive jewelry, while arsenic and cadmium were detected in 18 and 15 items, respectively.

Toys purchased in Ciudad Juárez were roughly three times more likely to exceed safety thresholds than toys purchased in El Paso. Children's jewelry made up about 41% of the collection and stood out as the highest-risk category.

## Why it matters The findings of this study are significant because children are more susceptible to the harmful effects of toxic metals due to their developing bodies. According to Jorge Gardea-Torresdey, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UTEP, children's bodies take in heavy metals more readily than adults, and their organs and detoxification systems are still developing. This means that exposure to toxic metals can cause far greater harm to children than to adults.

The study's results highlight the need for stricter regulations and enforcement of toy safety standards, particularly in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez region. Parents and caregivers should be aware of the potential risks associated with certain toys, especially children's jewelry, and take steps to ensure that the toys they purchase meet safety standards.