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Migration and health assessment of chemical substances in surface treated wooden toys

2 Survey

• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Survey
• 2.3 Production
  • 2.3.1 Turnover of natural toys of wood
• 2.4 Surface treatment of wooden toys
• 2.5 Types of surface treatment
  • 2.5.1 Information on surface treatment
  • 2.5.2 Stains and glazes
• 2.6 Sampled toy types

2.1 Introduction

The survey of wooden toys is performed in a previous survey report (Survey report no. 33, Ferdinand et al 2003). The most essential information from the report relevant to this project is cited below.

The survey has been supplemented with information from Statistics Denmark covering import and export for year 2003.

2.2 Survey

The Danish market for toys made of solid wood has been estimated to 50 million DKK (approx. 6.7 million Euro) or 2.3% of the total Danish trade turnover of the market of toys.

2.3 Production

In Denmark a minor production of toys and especially playing tools of wood takes place. As presented by the National Agency for Enterprise and Housing (Erhvervsfremmestyrelsen 2000), a number of manufacturers of "playing tools" exists. All of these manufacturers have been approached. The majority of what is being manufactured is plastic toys and plastic and wooden tools. The playing tools are parts for playgrounds, as for instance play houses, climbing frames and swings.

Only two companies manufacture actual wooden toys for children below the age of 36 months. Economic information about the production of wooden toys and information that there are only a few employees (Erhvervsfremmestyrelsen 2000) indicate that the share of Danish production to the Danish market of wooden natural toys is very small.

2.3.1 Turnover of natural toys of wood

All approached importers except 1 have confirmed that they import toys of wood. The estimation of the turnover of wooden toys is based on economic information from Statistics Denmark, importers and manufacturers and interviews with individual persons. When comparing these information it is estimated that the turnover of natural toys of wood amounts to 50 million DKK in consumer prices. Thus, the wooden toys are estimated to constitute 2.3% or 1/44 of the turnover of toys in Denmark.

According to Statistics Denmark, the total turnover of wooden toys (2001) amounts to a minimum of 39.5 million DKK including a profit factor of 2.5 that was confirmed by importers and used for toys. The 39.5 million DKK is estimated as Total turnover = Production + Import – Export, Commodity numbers: CN-9503.30.10, 9503.49.10 and 9503.60.10. Further a contribution comes from the commodity number CN-9503.90.99: "Toys, except when made of plastic, rubber, textile and metal, not mentioned elsewhere". This group alone covers 119.5 million DKK in consumer prices. This means that according to Statistics Denmark the turnover of wooden toys is between 39.5 and 159 million DKK.

Table 1 Import and export of wooden toys according to Statistics Denmark 2001 and 2003

CN: Commodity numbers used by Statistics Denmark

Import –export in 2001 was in Ferdinand et al. (2003) stated to 39.5 million DKK. The value is observed to be a little adjusted in the table above (table 1). A change in the statistics of the calculation system for external trade has lead to an upgrading of the import and export values for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 according to News from Statistics Denmark no. 72, 2003.

Most importers of wooden toys have passed on information from manufacturers and it is estimated that the major part of natural toys made of wood in Denmark comes from these manufacturers. Information on the individual manufacturers is found in Ferdinand et al. (2003).

The wooden toys are primarily being manufactured in Thailand and in Germany. The Thai manufacturers all use softwood or rubber wood from 30 to 40 year old discarded rubber plantations. The German manufacturers all use wood from Central Europe and of Central European wood species, often beech and to a limited degree maple, ash, birch and pine.

2.4 Surface treatment of wooden toys

Wooden toys can be surface treated with stains, glazes, paint and /or lacquers which may release health hazardous substances.

About surface treatment preparations for natural toys made of wood it was found that a large part of surface treated wooden toys was painted, stained or glazed with additional treatment with a lacquer or an oil. For lacquering primarily nitrocellulose lacquers are used.

The manufacturers all recommend that stained or glazed products should be additionally treated with a surface treatment that closes the surface, such as a lacquer or a drying oil. None of the pigments in the mentioned products are classified.

Toys are regulated by the Statutory Order on toys (Bkg. nr. 1116, 2003). The person who places the toy on the market has the responsibility that it is safe and as such does not harm the health in relation to the use. Products placed on the market as toys must be CE marked. The Statutory Order on toys further mentions that the person who places a toy product on the market has the responsibility that it must not contain dangerous substances or preparations that may harm the health of children using the toys.

In most instances the manufacturers have no other information on the surface treatment of the wooden toys than that they are CE authorised/marked. The manufacturers usually forward a copy of a test report on compliance to EN70-3 and refer to the manufacturer of the surface treatment product (paint, lacquer, glaze or stain) (Ferdinand et al. 2003).

EN (European Norm) no. 71 is the European standard for testing of toys in compliance with the Statutory Order of Toys. The standard contains currently 7 parts of which part 3: "Migration of certain elements " is especially relevant to this study. In the standard the following requirements (limit values) for the content of 8 elements in mg/kg are stated: Antimony <60, arsenic <25, barium <1000, cadmium <75, chromium <60, lead <90, mercury <60 and selenium <500 mg/kg.

According to the Statutory Order on toys the bioavailability of these elements resulting from the use of toys must not, as an objective, exceed the following levels per day:

0.2 μg for antimony, 0.1 μg for arsenic, 25.0 μg for barium, 0.6 μg for cadmium, 0.3 μg for chromium, 0.7 μg for lead, 0.5 μg for mercury, and 5.0 μg for selenium.

2.5 Types of surface treatment

Most wooden toys have been surface treated, which gives the wood an attractive look and makes it more resistant against outer influences. The colouring can either be done by covering the wood with a paint or by adding a stain or glaze, which penetrates the wood and sets off/maintains the structure of the wood.

In most cases the toys have had additional treatment with a lacquer or oil. Lacquer and oil add to making the product more glossy and resistant against outer influences such as UV light, bumps, sweat and saliva (Ferdinand et al. 2003).

2.5.1 Information on surface treatment

The manufacturers of wooden toys have been asked to inform type and chemical composition of the surface treatment, which their toys have had. Most manufacturers have replied only that their toys comply with the requirements in EN71-3, most surface treatments of wooden toys are made with stains or paints with a final lacquering, and as lacquering is mostly used nitrocellulose lacquer (Ferdinand et al. 2003).

2.5.2 Stains and glazes

Two types of surface treatments exist that colour the wood and at the same time maintain the structure of the veins in the wood visible, namely stain and glaze.

The stain pigment penetrates the wood and forms a chemical reaction with the lignin of the wood. According to one of the manufacturers, these reactive colouring agents are classified as toxic and very toxic. After the colouring, a risk of release of free reactive colouring agent remains.

Glaze colouring agents are, however, often agents that have been approved for food. Instead of reacting directly with the lignin, they are glued on. The agents are not very reactive.

Both stain and glaze manufacturers recommend that wooden toys, which have been treated with their products, are additionally treated with a product which closes the surface, i.e. a lacquer, wax or a drying oil, in order to be resistant against sweat and saliva (Ferdinand et al. 2003).

2.6 Sampled toy types

Most sampled toy types are labelled for the use by children 0 to 3 years of age. However two products for a little older children have been included as younger siblings may get hold op them and put them into the mouth. Finally a birthday decoration was included as it was considered tempting to play with for small children. The sampled and analysed products are described below:

Table 2. Description of sampled and analysed wooden toys

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Version 1.0 July 2005, © Danish Environmental Protection Agency