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Updated 6 hours ago
Parents, beware of slime.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, a national consumer advocacy group, released its annual "Trouble in Toyland" report on Tuesday, May 24th, 2009 At least two manufacturers disputed the findings.
Michael Samuelson, PIRG's Pennsylvania chapter, was joined by Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Erika Strassburger and Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner in the report.
Samuelson said slime contained "dangerous levels" of the chemical boron, which can cause nausea, vomiting and long term-reproductive health issues if eaten.
"In recent years, slime has become an increasingly popular toy," he said. "Unfortunately, our testing has found that several popular slimes … contain dangerously high levels and toxic levels of borax, which is a form of boron, and up to 15 times the limit that the European Union has determined is safe for use."
The United States has no set limit for boron in products. Samuelson said the European Union has a limit of 300 parts per million and that PIRG is calling for warning labels on slime packaging and an investigation to determine if the United States should set limits.
PIRG said it tested six types of slime that contained dangerous levels of boron including "Kangaroo's Original Super Cool Slime," which had high concentrations as high as 4,700 parts per million.
The Tribune-Review reached out to all six companies, but only Kangaroo Manufacturing based in Tempe, Ariz., Could be reached.
"Kangaroo Manufacturing is stating that all of us are tested and meet U.S. standards," spokeswoman said.
Samuelson said PIRG has privacy concerns about so-called "smart toys" that use the internet and phone applications to interact with children, including California-based Wonder Workshop's Dashboard robot.
"Unfortunately, many of these toys can be abused to a child's privacy," he said. "Last year the FBI issued a stark warning that these features of the privacy and safety of children at risk of exposure can be disproportionately exposed."
Wonder Workshop CEO Vikas Gupta told CNN that Dash is categorically false.
"That's absolutely incorrect," Gupta told CNN. "We do not collect any personal identifiable information from children, and we do not share any information from the apps or the software or robots to any third-party ever. None of that happens. "
PIRG also singled out toys as choking hazards – particularly balloons – and it was said that it caused excessive noise.
"The last thing Choking Hazard," said Strassburger, an expectant mother. "Parents should not be detectives when it comes to keeping their children safe from their toys."
Bob Bauder is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bob at 412-765-2312, [email protected] or via Twitter @bobbauder.
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