Nairobi: The Centre for Environment, Justice, and Development (CEJAD), in collaboration with a Czech environmental non-governmental organisation known as ARNIKA and the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), has released a new report titled ‘Dangerous Fun: A Price of Play’ which assesses the presence of harmful chemicals in children’s toys sold in Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, the study conducted prior to the release of the report by CEJAD and Arnika uncovered alarming levels of hazardous chemicals in children’s PVC plastic toys sold across the country. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) or vinyl is one of the most widely used and most toxic plastics, often called a ‘poison plastic’ for the known emissions of toxic chemicals from its production and through its use and disposal.
The new study found toxic chemicals in PVC toys, including phthalates, UV stabilisers, chlorinated paraffin, heavy metals, and plasticisers. These substances are known or suspected endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) linked to cancer, harm to children’s reproductive development and immune system functioning, liver and kidney health, and other serious health concerns. The findings highlight a serious threat to public health, particularly to children, and reinforce the urgent need for stricter regulations on toxic plastics.
‘Our children deserve safe toys without chemical threats to their healthy development, but our study shows that these toys made of poison plastic pose unacceptable harms that put our children’s future at risk,’ said the Executive Director CEJAD Griffins Ochieng in a statement to the media. ‘There must be swift action taken to protect our children and public health from plastics and the toxic chemicals plastics release into our homes and communities,’ he urged.
Meanwhile, the study analysed PVC plastic toy samples from various Kenyan retailers, including plastic dolls, inflatable toys, teething toys, bath toys, squishy toys, and wearable items like an inflatable Spiderman suit. Additionally, it is worth noting that children are particularly vulnerable to toxic exposure from PVC toys through ingestion, skin contact, and inhalation.
In this regard, the laboratory analysis was conducted by experts at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, in collaboration with Arnika’s Toxics and Waste Programme, which revealed that all toys tested contained phthalates, chemicals linked to reduced fertility across multiple generations, elevated blood pressure, obesity, and elevated levels of triglycerides. Secondly, all toys tested contained UV stabilisers, including chemicals linked to endocrine disruption with harmful impacts on normal development.
In addition, nine of eleven toys tested contained chlorinated paraffin, chemicals linked to cancer, neurodevelopmental and reproductive harm, and endocrine disruption; seven toys contained DEHA, a plasticiser linked to liver toxicity and harmful to reproductive health; and five toys contained barium, a toxic heavy metal linked to cardiovascular impacts and kidney damage. The other finding established the Spiderman suit as the most toxic toy, saturated with hazardous additives far beyond safe limits.
Altogether, these chemicals accumulate in the body, risking stunted growth and poisoning the children’s developing organs. Further, all the toxic chemicals found in the testing are particularly concerning, as they can migrate from plastics, leach into the environment, and expose children who play with the toys. The study also highlights the triple planetary crisis-climate change, biodiversity loss, and chemical pollution-exacerbated by the production, use, and disposal of hazardous PVC plastic toys.
Consequently, the experts have made a call to action presenting national recommendations to Kenya, which include introducing mandatory restrictions on PVC that will ensure the use of PVC plastics in sensitive consumer products is restricted; strengthening safety standards and implementing regulations to limit hazardous additives in toys; and strengthening monitoring and border control to prevent the import and sale of toxic toys. Others include consumer awareness, which will require clear labelling of chemicals in toys and plastics, and industry accountability to promote safe manufacturing and alternative materials.
On global policy recommendations, experts called for eliminating the production of Harmful Plastics and Additives through advocating for eliminating toxic chemicals like phthalates, MCCPs, SCCPs, and UV stabilisers under the Global Plastics Treaty. Additional recommendations include regulating recycling, which will prevent the reintroduction of toxic substances through recycled plastics; improving transparency by mandating labelling and disclosure of hazardous chemicals to enable the consumers to make informed choices; and adopting universal safety standards, which will ensure all markets comply with strict chemical safety regulations.
In the interim, stronger commitments under global conventions have been made, including the Stockholm Convention that classifies MCCPs as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to prevent their use and environmental buildup; the Basel Convention to strengthen control on hazardous plastic waste imports and disposal; the Rotterdam Convention, which establishes the use of prior informed consent to regulate toxic chemical imports; and Regional Collaboration, which encourages working with neighbouring countries to harmonise policies and improve cross-border enforcement against hazardous waste and products.
Ultimately, this study underscores the urgent need for Kenya to implement stricter regulations on hazardous chemicals in toys and participate actively in global environmental agreements to address this problem. Therefore, protecting children from toxic exposure must be a top priority, ensuring safer consumer products and a healthier environment for future generations.