How Plastic Toys Make Children Sick

Baby biting plastic toy

Squeaky duck and sandpit moulds – children love colourful plastic toys. However, these can contain health-damaging chemicals. Equally risky is contact with contaminated plastic, which pregnant women may come into contact with.

Exposure to such plastic chemicals can significantly harm health, as recent analysis by an international team of researchers indicates. These substances can interfere with growth, metabolic balance, and even brain development in unborn babies and children, and may promote chronic illnesses.

From Premature Birth to Cancer

So-called plasticisers are suspected of promoting preterm births and developmental disorders. Bisphenols are linked to obesity, diabetes, and thyroid problems – as well as neurological disorders such as ADHD and cognitive impairments.

The so-called PFAS – also known as eternity chemicals – can weaken the immune system, increase the risk of kidney and testicular cancer, and impair fertility.

Microplastics – Unclear Consequences

The effects of microplastics on the human body are still not fully understood – these are tiny plastic particles that, for example, form during the weathering of plastic or tyre wear. They enter the body through the food chain and are distributed throughout the body via the blood.

What damage this accumulated microplastic might cause inside the body is not yet precisely known. However, there is increasing evidence of various health-damaging effects:

Among other things, microplastics could increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and dementia. How they might impact children’s health over their lifetime remains open.

Exhaustive Study

The current analysis is based on hundreds of international individual studies involving a total of several tens of thousands of pregnant women, children, and adolescents. These included laboratory tests assessing the chemical content in blood, urine, or tissue samples. The researchers then examined whether elevated levels of chemicals corresponded with health problems among those affected.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges. How dangerous is this disease for children, and how can it be prevented?

Limits are repeatedly exceeded

Although the EU and countries like Switzerland have set limits for health-damaging plastic chemicals, tests of samples repeatedly find contaminated toys on the market.

Particularly problematic are imported products and recycled plastics. Notable signs include a strong chemical smell or sticky surfaces – but often, the contamination is invisible.

The authors of the current study emphasise that most of these investigations are observational studies; these can show correlations between plastic exposure and health issues but do not prove that these problems are directly caused by plastic in the body.

How Parents Can Protect Their Children

Experts still recommend simple protective measures in daily life:

• Shop selectively: Only buy products with a certification mark (e.g., GS mark, “Spiel gut”).
• Smell and touch: Avoid toys with a strong odour or sticky surface.
• Store food safely: Do not heat food in plastic – glass or stainless steel are safer.
• Remove dust: Regular vacuuming and wiping, as pollutants (like microplastics) can accumulate in household dust.
• Pay attention to age recommendations: Young children often put toys in their mouths and are especially vulnerable.
• Check toys via app: The “ToxFox” product verification app by BUND allows you to retrieve information about contained chemicals using a barcode or send an enquiry directly to the manufacturer: https://www.bund.net.

In the UAE

As awareness grows worldwide about the potential health risks posed by plastic toys, parents in the UAE should stay vigilant. Despite regulatory efforts, contaminated toys and products containing hazardous chemicals can still be found in local markets and imports. To safeguard children’s health, it is crucial for parents to choose toys wisely – opting for certified, high-quality products, avoiding those with strong smells or sticky surfaces, and ensuring safe storage of food and toys. Regular cleaning and following age-appropriate guidelines further help reduce risks. Ultimately, informed choices and proactive measures are vital to protecting children from the hidden dangers of plastic chemicals and microplastics in daily life.