Squishy Toy Chemicals Are SCHEER Target

Comment by February 22 on an EC preliminary opinion on toxicological reference values for eight organic chemicals emitted from squishy toys. Made available January 25, the report was adopted last fall by the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER).

Broadly, the panel's view is that inhalation is not a sufficient measure, so assessments also should consider oral exposure via sucking/chewing as well as ingestion of small pieces. As for dermal exposure, the report (bit.ly/3pIBuUT) deemed the eight particular chemicals unlikely risks but acknowledged that other substances might need such review.

The opinion described the need thus:

"Investigations of squeezable toys made of polymer foams, such as toy animals, different food products, e.g. ice cream, cakes and fruit, or emojies, revealed that these so-called squishy toys can emit chemicals in quantities that may give rise to concern. Risk assessments considered that the risk characterisation ratio…was exceeded in several instances, sometimes more than 100-fold, and that the toys could thus not be considered as safe."

Reviewed were 1,1,4,7,7-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine; bis(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)ether; cyclohexanone; dichloromethane, methylene chloride; N,N-dimethylaminoethanol; N,N-dimethylformamide;, triethylenediamine; and xylenes.