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As parents and other consumers shop for children’s gifts this holiday season, a new report warns that many toys on store shelves remain toxic and hazardous. Released today, the California Public Interest Research Group’s 24th annual “Trouble in Toyland” survey examines toy safety in three major categories; choking hazards, excessive noise, and dangerous lead levels. Despite unprecedented recalls of 45 million toys in 2007 and the enactment of new consumer product safety improvements in August 2008, the report was still able to identify children’s products sold at major retail stores that breached safety guidelines. Through CALPIRG’s research of purchases made in September and October, some toys and jewelry were found to pose choking hazards, exceed recommended close range decibel meters, and contained levels of lead and phthalates detrimental to developmental health. “Trouble in Toyland,” comes on the heels of California Attorney General Jerry Brown ordering major retailers such as Walmart and Target to pull lead contaminated children’s products off the shelf last week. The action was prompted by an investigation by an Oakland-based advocacy group confirming that numerous toys contained illegal levels of the chemical.

GUEST: Michael Russo, Health Care Advocate and Staff Attorney at California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG)

For more information, visit www.toysafety.net.