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  • Dec 5, 2007 4:19 pm US/Pacific
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Study: 35 Percent Of Toys Contaminated

Reporting
Jeanette Pavini
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― The Michigan-based Ecology center along with several other environmental groups tested over 1,200 toys, many still on store shelves, and found 35 percent contained lead. Of the toys tested, 23 were among the millions of toys already recalled.

"I have a seven year old boy and a lot of toys and a lot of made in Chinas." said, Tsering Vissallo. 

Tsering loaded up her bags with toys and came to Union Square in San Francisco Wednesday so environmental groups could test the toys for harmful chemicals.

"Today we're going to hear from a number of people that are going to talk about the importance of knowing what's in our toys," said Jared Blumenfeld from the San Francisco Department of the Environment.

And one way to be in the "know" is a new website, healthytoys.org, a toy database launched by the Washington Toxics Coalition and other environmental groups.

"They've conducted some testing with an electronic device to test for the presence of lead, cadmium and other toxic chemicals in children's toys," said Rachel Gibsen from Environment California.

The site let's you see how over 1,500 toys ranked from highest to lowest in terms of harmful chemicals.

"You can click around and look for different types of products, you can search by using keyword names and it's very user friendly," said Gibsen.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma recently helped pass legislation making California the first state to ban chemicals known as phthalates.

"Fourteen countries and the European Union have band the use of phthalates for over ten years yet it has taken along ten years for California or the United states to finally start stepping up to the plate to protect our consumers," said Assemblywoman Ma.

Tsering's glad she made the trip downtown and will rest easier this holiday season.

"A lot of them are fine and one has lead in it," saidTsering. And she'll be throwing that toy away.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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