Shortly before Christmas, the Stiftung Warentest 23 acoustics has investigated toys such as talking dolls, robots, or animals. Seven of them performed poorly, as it says in the December issue of the magazine “test”. However, not because of technical shortcomings, but because of toxic chemicals in the plastic.

The toys were tested on 240 substances. Most naphthalene was detected. This substance is suspected to cause cancer. Material samples of four of the toys even contained critical quantities and were rated “poor”. Three more charged products were “adequate”.

Naphthalene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) were mostly contaminated extender oils or dyes to the toy, explained Stiftung Warentest. Children can you record when you Play via the mouth or the skin. The found concentrations were not acutely toxic, is it in “test”. Some of the PAHS had, however, long-term in the organism.

In accordance with the stricter criteria tested

The legal requirements to comply with, therefore all the toys in the Test, the defective. “But for Precautionary reasons we have a rating of the PAK to the more stringent criteria of the GS-sign for tested safety,” explained Sara Wagner-Leifhelm, project Manager at Stiftung Warentest. This criteria is possible, the many trouble-free products showed in the Test.

The sole test winner with the rating “very good” the Dreamtopia-Barbie “magic hair game-Princess” from the rainbow Kingdom. If you are brushing your hair, or presses a button, it plays a short song with a play of light. She received in all categories with the highest marks. Five more toys from the sections with “good”.

Tips for shopping

What to consider when buying a toy, and explains Ralf Diekmann from TÜV Rheinland:

• Trusted dealer: Diekmann recommends, only for dealers to buy, which one knows or considered safe. On a weekly market or in the Internet with unknown dealers you could hardly understand the conditions under which the product was manufactured. Reputable sources inform about it on the packaging or on the Website.
• Mandatory information note: the default information on the packaging is part of the CE marking, the Name of the manufacturer or the importer, as well as operating and maintenance instructions – all in German language. The CE mark indicates that the product meets EU directives. However, this can be a pure self-disclosure, Diekmann, hazardous chemicals could still be present.
• Seal of approval: Diekmann recommends that certification marks such as the GS mark or the Toxproof seal from TÜV Rheinland to pay attention to. They may only be used by independent testing institutions after successful testing, assigned. For electronic toys, the VDE-mark, which is about remote controlled cars is important.
• Data protection: the smart, Teddy, in the nursery, not for the spy is, advises Diekmann also here, only from reputable sources to buy. Parents should be aware that manufacturers frequently use data to your product development.
• Always the nose: parents should check whether the plastic an unpleasant smell. The music box is too loud? The toy is flashing bright? Mothers and fathers can trust your senses. Substances such as lead, arsenic, mercury and Cadmium, which are, for example, in paints, and Polyester, can’t you smell it directly. But if something smells uncharacteristic for the Material, was the a note on harmful substances.
• Information in the network: The App Scan4Chem by the Federal environment Agency collects responses from manufacturers that are already requests for “substances of very high concern” information given. For this you have to scan the Barcode of the toy.