By Olivia Scheck
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Parents who want to give their children a toy replica of Dora the Explorer's talking backpack for Christmas should watch out: The toy may contain toxic chemicals, a new report says.
The New York Public Interest Research Group released their 25th annual "Trouble in Toyland" report Tuesday that provides a list of hazardous toys that parents and Santa should avoid this holiday shopping season.
The Dora backpack, which resembles the cartoon character's talking bag, may contain toxic phthalates.
"Numerous scientists have documented the potential health effects of exposure to phthalates in the womb or at crucial stages of development," the report said. "U.S. EPA studies show that the cumulative impact of different phthalates leads to an exponential increase in associated harm."
The list also includes toys that contain parts small enough for a child to choke on.
One toy – "Baby’s First Train" manufactured by the German toymaker HABA – was allowed onto the market because its parts exceeded the Consumer Specialty Products Association choking hazard size minimum, according to the NYPIRG. But the group said it had received a report from a D.C. family claiming that their one-year-old nearly choked to death on one of the pieces.
The NYPIRG also warned parents to avoid balloons, marbles and drawstring clothes, which they say could lead to choking or strangulation for children under a certain age.
In the past year 5.8 million toys and children’s products were recalled due to choking hazards, with an additional half a million recalled for violations of the lead paint standard, according to the group.
