As the holidays approach, parents are ticking off toy wishlists for their children. No one wants to buy something that is unsafe.

Still, are certain fidget spinners made with lead? And what’s really in that wad of slime?

The United States Public Interest Research Group recently published its “Trouble in Toyland” report (you can read the full text in PDF form). The group says that over 30 years, its yearly toy reports have helped recall more than 150 toys.

On Friday, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., appeared at Hackensack University Medical Center with NJPIRG, the state arm of the advocacy group, to talk about the report. A parent whose child needed surgery after swallowing magnets joined the senator.

Senator Bob Menendez

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@SenatorMenendez

· Nov 22, 2019

Black Friday is a week away & Americans are crafting their shopping lists. When we gift our kids new toys during the holidays, we all hope that they lead to fun—not a trip to the ER.

That's why I’m here at @HMHNewJersey with @NJPIRG to raise awareness about harmful toys.

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Senator Bob Menendez

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@SenatorMenendez

Not every toy on the shelves or available online is a safe gift for our kids this holiday season.@USPIRG’s Trouble in Toyland report is a great resource: https://uspirg.org/feature/usp/trouble-in-toyland …

Here are some highlights from the report:

  • USPIRG advises against fidget spinners for young children, due to evidence that some have contained excess levels of lead, which can impair development.
  • Parents can test for choking hazards using the toilet paper roll test: If the object in question can fit inside the roll, it’s a danger. They should also be vigilant of balloons, since children can inhale them while trying to inflate them or swallow them while chewing on an uninflated one.
  • Small magnets from sculpture kits and construction sets pose a serious threat and can prove fatal when ingested by children.
  • Slime may be a popular toy, but USPIRG says its testing of various slimes showed levels of boron that exceeded safety standards set by the European Union. Ingesting moderate or high doses of boron can cause vomiting. One brand of concern that’s currently for sale is the DIY 3-Pack of Rainbow Cosmic Slime Shakers, which contained 75 times the EU standard.
  • Children’s jewelry is a concern because of cadmium. USPIRG points to the attorney general in Washington finding a high level of cadmium in jewelry for kids, where it can be used as a cheap substitute for other metals. Ingestion of cadmium can contribute to the development of cancer and osteoporosis.

The Toy Industry Association responded to the report, which called for more regulation, saying standards applied to toys are more stringent than other consumer products. The association pointed out that some of the items in the report aren’t actually categorized as toys, like the children’s jewelry, balloons and magnets, so they are not subject to the same safety standards.