• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / News / Tracking Trouble in Toyland

Tracking Trouble in Toyland

November 22, 2012 By Andrew Beckett

As parents shop for holiday toys, a new report urges them to watch out for possible hidden dangers. The Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group is out with its 27th annual Trouble in Toyland report, which tests a random sampling of toys on store shelves each year.

WISPIRG’s Joe Rasmussen says changes in consumer protection laws have helped make the toy aisle safer to navigate, but the group did still find some unsafe products out there. Most of the dangers dealt with choking hazards, toxic chemicals, and unsafe noise levels.

Rasmussen says one of the most common hazards they continue to find is small parts in toys aimed at young children. He says shoppers should be sure to watch for any pieces that can fit inside of a toilet paper tube. Anything containing those parts should not be given to children under the age of three, and you should think carefully before giving it to a child under the age of six.

A few items tested positive for dangerous levels of toxic chemicals as well, such as lead and phthalates that are used to soften plastic.

While chemicals can be hard to spot on store shelves, Rasmussen says one thing shoppers can watch for is noise levels. Anything over 85 decibels can damage a child’s hearing and gift givers should consider looking for something quieter.

Shoppers can get some help checking out products while they are in the stores. WISPIRG has a mobile website that can be viewed on smart phones, which includes product information and warnings about particular toys. The Consumer Product Safety Commission also operates a database with similar information.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:07)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News



Featured Stories

Arrest in 2022 firebombing at Wisconsin pro-life group’s office

Senate Republicans shut down debate on conversion therapy in Wisconsin

UW Madison based Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center receives funding renewal

Secretary of State La Follette resigns from office, Godlewski named as replacement

Republican proposal to alter 1849 abortion statute won’t advance in Senate

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Evers’ AmFam funding plan ‘a nonstarter’ with Assembly Republicans

New pitch clock could speed up MLB games this season, says UW expert

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC