Ban On Chemicals in Children's Toys

By Ed Joyce / Reporter, KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published February 10, 2009 at 12:05 PM PST

This story was published more than 15 years ago.

A federal ban on a chemical added to plastic products is now in effect. The chemical is used to soften toys and other products, but can also cause long-term health problems. KPBS Environment Reporter

A federal ban on a chemical added to plastic products is now in effect. The chemical is used to soften toys and other products, but can also cause long-term health problems. KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

California Senator Dianne Feinstein says the ban on certain types of phthalates will protect children from exposure to the chemical.

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The ban was sponsored by Senator Feinstein and signed into law last summer.

It imposes a permanent ban on three dangerous phthalates found in toys for children 12 years and younger.

The chemicals are found in a variety of children's toys and childcare products such as teethers, rubber ducks and soft books.

They're also added to vinyl shower curtains, nail polish and other items.

Phthalates interfere with the hormone system and can cause reproductive problems.

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In 2007, California became the first state in the nation to pass a law banning the chemicals from many toys and childcare products.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.

Ed Joyce

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Ed Joyce was the environment reporter and afternoon news anchor for KPBS-FM. Before joining KPBS, he worked as an editor/columnist with Copley News Service in San Diego. Ed has an extensive background in newspaper, radio, web and TV journalism. After graduating with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington in Seattle, Ed began a career in broadcast journalism. His work has included stints in public broadcasting, commercial broadcasting and education -- working as an affiliate professor of communication and reporter at the University of Idaho and Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. During the past 20 years he has worked in radio, TV and print as a news reporter, anchor, writer, editor and producer. Along the way he has won numerous awards for general news reporting, newswriting, feature and issue reporting and breaking news reporting from The Associated Press, The Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Press Club and other organizations. During the mid-1990s, while working for Oregon Public Broadcasting, he was a frequent contributor to National Public Radio, including a feature report on the memorial service for 14 U.S. Forest Service "hotshots" who died fighting a wildfire in Colorado (the crew was based in a central Oregon town). He’s also filed reports with Marketplace, KQED’s California Report and Climate Watch and with national and regional networks throughout the United States. At KPBS, Ed continues his contributions to National Public Radio and other national and regional news organizations. He has won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and San Diego Press Club for his environmental reporting at KPBS-FM-TV and for producing and anchoring radio newscasts. In 2007 he was selected a National Press Foundation fellow for Understanding Violent Weather II program. The seminars were held at the National Weather Center in Norman, Okla. In 2008 he spoke at a UC San Diego conference on U.S. National Security as part of the school’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. Ed led a discussion with the 18 foreign government officials and academics about the political debate over climate change. In 2010, Ed was elected to a three-year term on the board of the San Diego Press Club.

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