GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has warned parents to avoid plastic toys for their children as they are found to contain poisonous chemicals called chlorinated paraffin.
Chlorinated paraffins, classified based on their carbon chain lengths, are highly toxic chemicals used in many types of plastics, including in plastic children's toys.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said evidence showed they might cause liver and kidney damage, affect the endocrine system, cause cancer, harm growing brains, and endanger reproductive health.
"Evidence also shows that chlorinated paraffins are released from plastics through their life cycle.
"Children can be exposed to chemicals in toys through inhalation of toxic dust, skin contact and ingestion, which can either be through exposure to the mouth or by chewing," he said today.
Mohideen said, in a study conducted by International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) on 31 samples of plastic toys collected from 10 countries, including Malaysia, it was found that both short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) were found in all the toys tested.
He said among the toys tested were inflatable horses, shrilling chickens, rubber ducks, dolls and plastic teddy bears.
The samples were analysed at a laboratory in Prague.
SCCPs have been globally banned and MCCPs are being evaluated for a global ban.
According to Mohideen, several of the toys examined showed high amounts of SCCPs, implying that plastic toys used by children are so poisonous that they can be categorised as hazardous waste.
The IPEN study found alarmingly high concentrations of chlorinated paraffins in children's toys.
These results published by IPEN in October highlighted the urgency of regulating these chemicals globally and across regulatory frameworks.
None of the toys tested by IPEN included harmful chemical labels, emphasising the significance of labelling and traceability throughout the plastics life cycle.
SCCPs are listed for elimination under the Stockholm Convention in 2017 due to their persistence and toxicity.
"However, Malaysia has yet to ratify the Convention.
"Recent tests conducted in Canada detected high concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs in toys and electronic devices. The presence of SCCPs in these products is of particular concern as infants, toddlers and young children are vulnerable to exposure from such sources.
"Even though the products that were tested were purchased in Canada, they are manufactured for international markets and thus could be available in Malaysia," Mohideen added.
IPEN's latest report "Are Your Children's Toys Hazardous Waste? High Levels of Chlorinated Paraffins in Plastic Toys from Ten Countries'' published in October highlighted several gaps in how toxic chemicals are currently regulated.
Mohideen said it highlighted the importance of regulating classes of chemicals to prevent replacing one toxic chemical with another, demonstrated the harm of allowing exemptions for continued use of toxic chemicals and showed the importance of transparency and traceability of chemicals used in plastics.
"Given the latest findings, CAP calls for a ban on chlorinated paraffins as a class, given that they all have similar concerns.
"We also want the government to ratify the Stockholm Convention," he stressed.
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is the only global legally binding mechanism to eliminate the world's most dangerous chemicals.
The chemicals that are listed under the Convention are proven to be so toxic, persistent and bio accumulative that they are of global concern.
Malaysia became a signatory on May 16, 2002 but has yet to ratify the Convention.