Plastic in older toys could pose a risk to children’s health, according to hew research.
Old plastic toys, which are likely to have been passed down through generations between families, could contain high concentrations of toxic chemicals.
Scientists from the University of Plymouth analysed 200 used plastic toys - cars, trains, construction products and figures - found in homes, nurseries and charity shops across the South West of England.
They discovered high concentrations of “hazardous elements” (antimony, barium, bromine, cadmium, chromium, lead and selenium), which are toxic to children at low levels over an extended period of time.
“This is the first systematic investigation of hazardous elements in secondhand plastic toys in the UK,” said lead author Dr Andrew Turner.
“Secondhand toys are an attractive option to families because they can be inherited directly from friends or relatives or obtained cheaply and readily from charity stores, flea markets and the internet.”