ALBANY, NY — Sixty-four children’s products covered in a New York State report are setting off alarms because of potentially harmful ingredients. Among the chemicals in the products highlighted by Sen. Tony Avella, vice chairman of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, and Assemblyman Steven Englebright are antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.
These toxic chemicals are found in products being sold to children ages 12 and under. New York State is seeking to add these ingredients as science emerges and technology improves, according to Dr. Philip Landrigan of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
The worst offenders are Pink Crush Sandals purchased at Shoppers World in New York City, which contain more than 100,000 parts per million of lead, and more than 3,000 parts per million of antimony in rhinestone decorations. The Hello Kitty Bowtie Necklace, purchased at Jack’s in New York City, contained more than 70,000 parts per million of lead, and 1,000 parts per million of antimony in the rhinestones on the pendant.
Charms and DIY bracelet sets purchased in Long Island contained charms with more than 200,000 parts per million of cadmium, and 5,000 parts per million of antimony. An “I Love N.Y.” bag, also sold at Jack’s in New York City contained over 15,000 parts per million of lead in the zipper.
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Sen. Phil Boyle, lead sponsor of Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products legislation for the past four sessions said, “Parents have a right to know whether dangerous chemicals lurk in the products they buy for their children. We can no longer tolerate a system in which safe products exist side by side on store shelves with those that contain hidden hazards.”