NEW DELHI: Alarming levels of lead and cadmium have been found in soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys, according to a study conducted by a non-governmental organisation, Toxics Link.

The NGO picked up samples from the largest manufacturers and supply centres of unbranded toys in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

Releasing findings of the study at a press conference here on Monday, Toxics Link director Ravi Agarwal said, "Our study has shown that young children are being exposed to severe health hazards,, ranging from liver damage to disruption in mental growth, caused by these metals. There are also no legal and binding standards in the country that stipulate the safe limits of heavy metal content in toys, and it is largely left to the manufacturers' discretion and judgement."

Lead and cadmium are proven poisons, being neurotoxins and nephrotoxins respectively. Neurotoxins are agents that harm the nervous system while nephrotoxins affect the kidneys.

Even the tiniest amounts can have long-term and measurable effects on children while displaying no distinctive symptoms. Lead is absorbed into the blood stream — some of it is filtered out and excreted, but the rest is deposited in the liver, brain, kidney and bones.

Mumbai and Delhi account for nearly 95 per cent of the toy production in India, and, according to the report, all the toy samples contained varying concentrations of lead and cadmium. Eight samples from Mumbai contained more than the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standard of 200 ppm of lead in vinyl blinds, and five samples had more than 600 ppm of lead, which is the limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for painted toys.

Asserting that the study was taken up with the idea of drawing the attention of policymakers and researchers to the problem, Mr. Agarwal said: "India has no enforceable standards for lead, cadmium and other toxic metals permissible in toys and, in particular, soft PVC toys, which are intimately linked to children's environment. They have not been investigated as one of the possible sources of lead, cadmium and other heavy metals exposure. It is estimated that the industry volume is $1.5 billion in the unorganised sector, and soft toys, mostly made of PVC, account for 35 per cent of the country's total production of toys."

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