Staff Reporter :
Alarming level of toxic heavy metals, including lead, mercury, and cadmium, was found in the country’s toys, posing concern over children’s health and development, according to a study.
Considering the depth of the children’s health damage, immediate action is needed to tackle the crucial matter, the study urged.
The study, conducted by Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), was revealed at a media briefing on “Innocence Touched by Shadows: Investigating Toxic Chemicals in Toys” at the ESDO’s office in the city on Monday.
The study, conducted in collaboration with the Philippine-based organization Ban Toxic, utilized XRF analyzers to determine the concentrations of lead, mercury, and cadmium in 40 different toy brands and 55 percent of the toy samples tested were produced locally.
The European Union (EU) has established standards for acceptable levels of these toxic metals in toys and according to the EU regulations, the maximum permissible concentrations are as follows, lead, 13.5 ppm, mercury, 7.5 ppm and cadmium, 1.9 ppm.
But, the findings from the study reveal a stark contrast, with toy samples from Dhaka showing substantially higher levels of these toxic metals: lead: 65.85 ppm, mercury: 30.6 ppm, cadmium: 28.65 ppm.
The significant discrepancy between the EU standards and the actual metal concentrations in Dhaka’s toys raises serious concerns about the safety of these products, especially for children who play with them.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has labeled these heavy metals as hazardous and the presence of heavy metals is worrisome for all, but particularly for children under six.
Their susceptibility to heavy metal exposure is heightened by their developmental stage and natural mouthing behavior, it said.
Expressing his deep concern over the presence of lead in toys, Syed Marghub Murshed, former Secretary of Bangladesh government and Chairperson of ESDO, said, “It is crucial that all parties involved in children’s toy production, distribution, and use acknowledge the importance of lead contamination and work together to guarantee child safety.”
“Lead pollution is emerging as a severe and often overlooked problem in Bangladesh, with far-reaching implications for the nation’s people and its economic well-being.
This crisis is quietly eroding the health of its citizens and affecting the prospects of future generations,” said Prof Dr Md Abul Hashem, Technical Advisor of the ESDO.
Thony Dizon, Advocacy/Campaign Officer of BAN Toxics said, “Toys that are shiny contain not only lead but some other type of toys controlled by batteries even the marbles contain mercury and cadmium.”
Dr Abdullah-Al Faisal, Deputy Program Manager of the DGHS said, “The long-lasting consequences of lead exposure are felt most acutely by the younger generation.
Children, with their developing brains and bodies, are highly susceptible to the toxic effects of lead.”
ESDO’s Secretary General Dr Shahriar Hossain and Executive Director Siddika Sultana, among others, spoke on the occasion.