Toys aren’t what they used to be.

A little wooden top that can't talk or be accessorized with insanely high heels or a stylish hat won't maintain most children's attention for more than two seconds. Your kid may or may not even recognize it as a toy.

New toys are constantly filling our children's closets. Recent studies show nearly every household purchases at least one toy a year (often more), and the total toy sales in the U.S. in 2007 was $20.5 billion.

As toys have become more complex, the dangers associated with them have increased. If not properly handled, they can cause injury to both your child and the environment.

Lead

Although there are bans against using Consumer Product Safety Commission. Have your child tested if you are concerned about possible exposure to lead.

• Depending on the level of exposure and the age of the person involved, lead can cause a nasty list of symptoms: vomiting, headache, anemia and damage to the blood-forming, nervous, urinary and reproductive systems, to name a few.
• A young child's cognitive and physical development can be stunted from lead exposure.
• Children are most often exposed by putting items containing lead in their mouths.
• In an effort to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in children, the use of lead paint on toys and furniture was banned in the U.S. in the late 1970s.
• China, a prolific toy-producing country, signed an agreement in 2007 to prohibit the use of lead paint on toys exported to the U.S.

Batteries

Batteries are required (but not included) for many of today's toys.

• Each year, Americans throw out almost 180,000 tons of batteries.
• Batteries are comprised of heavy metals, which include nickel cadmium, alkaline, mercury, nickel metal hydride and lead acid. These can threaten our environment if not properly discarded or handled.
• Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries every year to power radios, toys, cellular phones, watches, laptop computers and portable power tools.

Magnets

Magnets may not seem to pose much of a threat, but they can cause a child to need emergency surgery if more than one is swallowed. They can cause serious damage by attracting each other through the lining of different loops of intestine. Ultimately, the magnets can cause a lack of blood flow in the lining of the intestine and puncture it.

Other Dangers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has published 774 toy recalls, warnings, and repair notices since 1974. The reasons vary from fire and choking hazards, to lead paint and small magnets. You can find a list of all recalls on the CPSC site.

Also, many toys are made with Polyvinyl Chloride, or PVC #3 plastic. It is often difficult to recycle, and many are concerned about its environmental impact. Be careful about what you buy and especially keep an eye on young children playing with plastic.

Content provided by Earth 911, the leading nationwide directory of local recycling resources.