An analysis of 70 children’s toys, drawn from both major retailers and discount shops, has uncovered widespread contamination with potentially toxic elements – including barium, lead, chromium, antimony, and mercury. The investigation combines microwave-assisted digestion with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify 21 elements, making it the most extensive assessment of toy safety in the country to date.
The research team, from the University of São Paulo and the Federal University of Alfenas, reports that many toys failed to meet Brazil’s INMETRO safety limits as well as EU standards. Barium was the most frequent violation, while lead exceeded permitted levels in nearly a third of samples. “These data reveal a worrying scenario of multiple contamination and lack of control,” said Bruno Alves Rocha – who led the study – in a press release. He adds that tighter oversight – including routine laboratory testing and improved product traceability – is urgently needed.
To mimic what happens when toys are mouthed by infants, the team performed hydrochloric-acid extraction tests, measuring how much metal leaches into saliva-like fluid. Although only small fractions of the total metal content dissolved – typical extraction rates ranged from less than 1 percent to around 7 percent – the underlying concentrations were so high that safety concerns remain. “While this is positive, the finding doesn’t eliminate safety concerns, particularly given the high total concentrations detected in many samples,” Rocha noted.
Patterns in the data hint at how contamination enters the manufacturing chain. Strong correlations between nickel, cobalt, and manganese suggest shared raw materials or additives, while beige-colored toys showed elevated metals, a possible link to specific paint suppliers. The study also reinforces a broader picture: earlier work from the same group has documented endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenols and phthalates in the very same toys.
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