Trouble in Toyland: Hazardous toy report

A consumer watchdog group has released its 24th annual Trouble in Toyland report. The survey focuses on toys that may pose hazards to children.

A consumer watchdog group has released its 24th annual Trouble in Toyland report. The survey focuses on toys that may pose hazards to children.

A new survey by the U.S. Public Inerest Research Group says it found three main toy safety risks to small children: Toxic hazards, noise and choking. In the past two years, at least 13 children have choked to death on ballons or toys.

Experts recommend that for children age under 3, use a cylinder the size of a tissue roll to test toy parts. If they can fit through the cylinder, the toy is considered unsafe.

Nearly 15 percent of kids between 6 and 17 show signs of hearing loss. Some attribute the statistics to toys used close to the ear, like toy cell phones. These types of toys should not be louder than 10 decibels, measured from 10 feet away.

Harmful chemcials found in toys are also a major concern. It's long been known to avoid lead which can damage the central nervous system. Also, phthalates, used to make plastic softer are linked to reproductive defects.

But other consumer groups and the toy industry say toys are saver than ever. This year there have been 38 consumer product safety commission toy recalls down from more than 160 last year.

Click on the related links for more information on toy safety.