Lead and other toxic metals in plastic play foods: Results from testing citizen science, lead detection tools in childcare settings

Abstract

A method development pilot study examining citizen science tools for assessing lead in childcare settings identified plastic food toys as an unexpected potential source of lead and arsenic. Collaborating researchers at three universities sought to develop a low cost, replicable approach for use in childcare centers to identify lead. Through graduate Environmental Health courses at Northeastern and Boston Universities, 197 Plastic Food Toys (PFTs) used in a childcare center were tested for lead using a portable X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) instrument and a colorimetric wipe method for detecting surface lead. The XRF identified concerning levels of lead and co-occurring arsenic in PFTs. The XRF analysis found 8.63% (17/197) of PFTs from the childcare center contained more than 100.00 ppm of lead, the U.S. Consumer Protection Safety Commission's (CPSC) upper regulatory threshold for lead in childrens' products. However, wipes did not detect removable surface lead. Lead concentrations ranged from 6.14 ppm to 11,999.00 ppm with a median of 40.00 ppm. Additionally, 7.10% of all PFTs tested had detectable levels of arsenic which ranged from 9.30 ppm to 1134.42 ppm and had a median value of 113.20 ppm. Arsenic concentrations in 6.60% of PFTs' exceeded the US voluntary standard for arsenic in children's products of 25.00 ppm (adopted from the EU standard). These findings prompted further sampling of similar newly-purchased PFTs. None of the newly-purchased PFTs tested positive for lead or arsenic (0/87). Several other elements were also identified, particularly in the used PFTs. Because these food-like toys are frequently put in children's mouths, we recommend further investigation of PFTs in circulation via citizen science combining the wipe and XRF method as they provide immediate data to participants. Additionally, CPSC should consider a systematic recall of some used PFTs to prevent exposure disparities by socio-economic status and increased surveillance for other toxic metals in new PFTs.