Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Study finds toxin level 100 times safe limit

Toxic Toys
Study finds toxin level 100 times safe limit
Young children are at risk of serious health problems from toxic materials found in toys widely available in the capital city. A recent study, undertaken by the Environment and Social Development Organisation, identified high levels of lead, cadmium, bromine and chromium in all but one of 40 toys that were analysed. Some toys had levels of toxic chemicals that were hundreds times the safe level in Europe and the United States.
The 40 samples — which included puzzles, writing boards, tennis bats, cups, balls, cameras, aero plane, toys guns, animals, cars, and spider man outfits — were collected from markets in Dhaka and tested in the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology.
The ESDO secretary general, Shahriar Hossain, told New Age that there were no facilities available in Bangladesh to undertake such kinds of test.
‘We asked the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to test the samples. It, however, had informed us that it was not capable of doing such tests as it has never done this kind of work before,’ he said.
The study found that the levels of lead, cadmium, bromine and chromium were significantly above the internationally recommended ceilings, with even the lowest limits of heavy metals of the toys analysed found to be above the permissible limit of the European Union.
The highest level of heavy metals was found in a clay-based cups, used mostly by toddlers for playing.
The yellow-coloured cup had 8305.8 parts per million of lead, which is 615 times higher the European Union
standard and 92 times higher the United States of the America standard.
Exposure to high levels of lead can result in death. In 2006, a four-year-old boy died after swallowing a small heart-shaped locket which had a high level of lead in it, resulting in the US Consumer Product Safety Commission recalling more than 1 million toys.
The tests also found that the same cup had very high levels of both cadmium and chromium — 490.5ppm and 2502.2ppm.
In the EU, levels are not allowed to be above 1.9ppm for cadmium and 37.7ppm for chromium. The acceptable levels in the United States is 75ppm and 60ppm.
The study also shows that 75 per cent of the samples were contaminated with bromine which can cause many health problems even to the heart, stomach, lungs and skin.
The highest bromine concentration was found to be 3,923ppm in a silver-coloured plastic-made camera while the average in all 40 products was 311.97ppm.
According to the study, the plastic toys are the most contaminated of all the toys and lead was the chemical which was found at the highest level of concentration in the toys.
The average lead concentration was found to be 401.78ppm in the samples. In the European Union, the permitted level is only 13.5ppm and in the United States, it is 90ppm.
The study also found that some internationally branded toys were contaminated with toxins.
‘We have found three internationally branded toys made in China and India contaminated with toxic metals,’ Shahriar said.
The Bangladesh Toy Merchant Manufacturers and Importers’ Association general secretary, M Jahidul Hoque, brushed aside the allegation of toxicity in toys.
‘We have never heard of any toxic materials in toys and we have all the government permissions including environmental and custom clearances to run the business,’ he said.
According to health experts, these toxic chemicals can affect vital organs and cause many diseases such as cancer, kidney infection, damage of lungs, heart diseases and brain damage of children.
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research director, Mahmudur Rahman, told New Age that the levels of toxins found in the toys could affect children’s health in a significant manner.
‘These elements are slowly poisoning the children and can do a great deal of damage to human health although sometimes we do not see any instant impact of these toxic substances,’ he said.
‘As most of the time children tend to suck and chew on their toys, the children can suffer health impact from toys with heavy toxic metals,’ he said.
The study, which interviewed 50 parents about their children and toys, found that 58 per cent of parents said that their children tended to put toys in their mouth.
Eighty per cent of all toys available in Bangladesh are imported, mostly
coming from China, Thailand and India. The industry is now worth about Tk 200 crore.
The study found that 88 per cent of the parents interviewed were totally unaware of the toxicity of toys.
According to Shahriar, the toys with toxic materials still prevail on the market as the country does not have any particular law regarding the issue.
The research, undertaken between October 2012 and August 2013, was published on Friday in a report titled, ‘Toxic Toys: Heavy Metal Content and Public Perception.’

-With New Age input

Related News

Bangladesh and KSA sign pact for workers’ rights

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have just inked a labour recruitment agreement, marking the first deal aimed at promoting fair recruitment practices and protecting workers’ rights. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser, Prof. Asif Nazrul, and the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmad Bin Solaiman Al-Rajhi, recently came ... Read more

Poor pay, allowances of teachers affect education

World Teacher’s Day today Shahin Akhter Poor pay-scale and allowances and low social status mark the poor condition of the teachers in Bangladesh affecting the education sector, observed educationists and researchers. They also said that the Bangladeshi teachers were lagging much behind their fellows even in the neighbouring countries in terms of these facilities and ... Read more

Protecting hilsa: 22-day fishing ban begins

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has put a 22-day halt on catching, transporting, storing, selling, and marketing hilsa throughout the country. This measure aims to protect the fish during its crucial breeding season. The ban started at midnight yesterday and will last until October 25, as stated in a notification from the Ministry of ... Read more

Road fatalities: 446 crashes, 417 lives lost in September

News Desk : dhakamirror.com In September, a tragic report from the Road Safety Foundation revealed that at least 417 people lost their lives and 682 were injured in 446 road accidents throughout Bangladesh. Among those who died, there were 63 women and 47 children, as highlighted in the foundation’s monthly report released today. In 151 ... Read more

Man’s fatal fall into Ramna Park lake

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A tragic incident occurred yesterday at Ramna Park in the capital, where a man drowned in the lake. The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Wasimul Haq. The police were able to identify him using fingerprint records. According to Ramna police SI Mizanur Rahman, he was discovered unconscious around 6:00 PM ... Read more

Tariff Commission’s size-based hilsa pricing strategy

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), also known as the Tariff Commission, has suggested setting a maximum retail price for hilsa based on its size. This recommendation comes in response to the unusual spike in prices seen in the local market. On Sunday, the Tariff Commission released a report detailing ... Read more

Ekushey Book Fair won’t happen in December

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangla Academy announced yesterday (28 September), that the previously scheduled dates for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 have been postponed. In a press release, they explained that this decision was made following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 21, which indicated that the fair should ... Read more

Working in Bangladesh is quite challenging: CEC

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Election Commission is grappling with a mix of challenges, both seen and unseen, as it gears up for the upcoming elections and responds to various demands, shared chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday. “These hurdles might not be apparent from the outside, but we’re constantly navigating through them,” ... Read more

Travel ban on Keokradong hill to be lifted starting from 1 October

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Great news for travelers! Keokradong hill in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila is set to welcome tourists again starting October 1. The district administration has finally lifted the travel ban that had been in effect for almost three years. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shamim Ara Rini announced the decision today (27 September) during ... Read more

Tree planting campaign to lower pollution, make city more attractive

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia has inaugurated a tree plantation and greening programme covering 33 road medians, spanning a total length of 31 kilometres, within the corporation’s jurisdiction. Under the “Zero Soil” programme, ornamental flowering trees and grasses will be planted across 28 DSCC medians, while the ... Read more

Krishi Bank ranks third in remittance collection

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Krishi Bank has shown remarkable success in collecting remittances from expatriates during the first eight months of 2025 (January–August). Known as bank for farmers due to its agricultural loan services, this state-owned institution has climbed to the third position in remittance collection from abroad in that timeframe. This notable achievement has ... Read more

North Bay low : Rain forecast for Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Many parts of the country is expected to witness moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfall in the coming days due to the formation of a low-pressure system over the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas, the Met office said in its latest forecast. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s 120-hour weather ... Read more

Metrorail boosts service: Extended hours & more frequent arrivals

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka metrorail service is set to start operating earlier in the morning and later at night to better serve the growing number of passengers. Service hours will be extended by 30 minutes at both the beginning and end of the day, and the interval between trains will be reduced by nearly ... Read more

22% minors in Bangladesh’s sex trade

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least 22 percent of victims of commercial sexual exploitation (abuse of a person, or a minor, through sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits) in Bangladesh are children, said speakers at an event yesterday. They shared the information at the launch of “Project Shurakkha”, an initiative of ... Read more

WB Reports Bangladesh Heat Costs at $1.78 Billion in 2024

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Rising temperatures in Bangladesh are fueling a surge in heat-related illnesses, leading to the loss of 250 million workdays in 2024 and economic losses estimated at $1.33–1.78 billion, representing about 0.3 to 0.4 percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to a new World Bank report. The report ... Read more

Police clearance no longer required for passports

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced that police verification will no longer be necessary for obtaining a passport, thereby reducing unnecessary hassle for citizens. “Getting a passport is a basic right. We have established a rule that eliminates the need for police verification,” he stated. While speaking at the opening session ... Read more

Metro rail achieves record 4 lakh daily passengers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Metro Rail has achieved a remarkable milestone by carrying over 400,000 passengers in a single day. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the Metro Rail, announced this achievement on their official Facebook page on Friday night. For the first time, Metro Rail recorded 403,164 passengers. The Metro Rail ... Read more

Most people, about 66% think civil servants behave as if they are rulers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com More than 100,000 participants have contributed their responses to reform commission’s online survey 80% of the respondents believe that the administration is not approachable for the general public, according to a survey conducted by the Public Administration Reform Commission. Additionally, 66% of participants feel that civil servants act as if they ... Read more

Former Justice Abdur Rouf dies

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Md Abdur Rouf has passed away at the age of 91. He died around 10:00 am while receiving treatment at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital in Dhaka, as stated in a press release. Justice Rouf had been battling heart disease, lung complications, kidney issues, and ... Read more

Bangladesh climbed 4 positions to rank 93rd in global passport index

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh has climbed four notches up in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, ranking 93rd out of 99. However, the number of visa-free destinations for Bangladeshi passport holders has dropped from 42 in 2024 to 39 this year, reflecting a decline in global travel privileges. Despite this improvement in rank — ... Read more