Publication #17-04-006 January 2017 1

Washington’s Children’s Safe Products Act (CSPA) requires manufacturers to

report whether the items they make contain one of 66 chemicals of high

concern to children. The law also restricts the amount of lead, cadmium, and

phthalates children’s products can contain.

In 2012, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) evaluated

children’s products for phthalates, parabens and metals. These studies found

chemicals in Halloween-themed children’s products at levels that caused

concern. Based on the results of that study, Ecology was concerned that

products offered on store shelves for only a limited period of time might not

meet the same compliance and safety standards as everyday products.

In 2014 and 2015, Ecology followed up with a series of seven seasonal

studies evaluating products sold during Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter,

Fourth of July, Back to School, and Halloween seasons. Ecology screened

these products for compliance with CSPA reporting requirements and with

restrictions in Washington and federal law.

Testing Results Ecology purchased 1,033 products. Based on initial screening results, 556

samples were taken from 411 products and tested for the presence of seven

metals, five parabens, and nine phthalates. Laboratory analysis identified:

3,918 analytical sample results.

234 sample results above the reporting limit of 100 parts per million for

one or more of the target chemicals.

60 results indicating the presence of chemicals that manufacturers

should have reported under CSPA — indicating that 98.5 percent of

manufacturers complied with CSPA reporting requirements.

17 results that exceeded either Washington or federal limits for

cadmium, lead, or phthalates — indicating that 99.5 percent of

manufacturers complied with these restrictions.

Testing Seasonal Products

for Toxic Chemicals

Why Test Products?

Washington State has passed

laws to restrict the use of

chemicals that are toxic to people

or the environment. These

restrictions include well-known

toxics such as lead and mercury,

and lesser-known chemicals like

the flame retardants known as

polybrominated diphenyl ethers

(PBDEs) and phenylboronic acid

(BPA).

The Children’s Safe Products Act

restricts the use of lead,

cadmium, and phthalates, and

requires manufacturers to report

if their products contain other

chemicals of concern to children.

To enforce these laws, the

Washington Department of

Ecology purchases consumer

products and tests them to

determine their chemical

makeup.

You can find Ecology’s product

testing reports at:

www.ecy.wa.gov/toxics/

testing.html

Publication #17-04-006 January 2017 2

For More Information Summary of Seasonal Study Samples

ppm = parts per million

Compliance Ecology identified 60 results indicating the presence of chemicals that

should have been reported under CSPA. Ecology contacted the

manufacturers of these items and assisted them with complying with the

law’s reporting requirements.

Ecology identified 17 samples that exceeded either Washington or federal

limits for cadmium, lead or phthalates. Ecology contacted the

manufacturers of these items and informed them about the report’s

findings and the regulatory limits. Ecology worked with the manufacturers

of the products found to exceed state limits to recall the items or ensure

they were no longer sold in Washington. For products that exceeded

federal standards, Ecology forwarded its findings to the U.S. Consumer

Product Safety Commission.

Next steps Ecology’s future

product testing

studies will focus on

children’s products,

including seasonal

products, and the

agency will continue

to review data to

ensure compliance

with state regulations,

including CSPA.

Seasonal Study Product

Samples

Analytical

Results

Results

>100 ppm

Not in CSPA

database

Above

Limits

Christmas 2014 79 563 24 8 —

Valentine’s Day 78 566 24 5 3

Easter 83 591 28 12 2

Fourth of July 83 591 31 10 1

Back to School 58 426 30 1 6

Halloween 85 555 45 8 2

Christmas 2015 90 626 52 16 3

TOTALS 556 3,918 234 60 17

The full report, Children’s

Seasonal Products 2014-2015 is

available at:

https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/

publications/

SummaryPages/1604029.html

To view product testing data and

search by seasonal study title,

visit:

https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/

ptdbpublicreporting/

For more information on the

report, contact:

Kari Trumbull

360-407-6093

kari.trumbull@ecy.wa.gov

For more information on

reporting and compliance for the

Children’s Safe Products Act,

contact:

Tina Schaefer

360-407-6093

tina.schaefer@ecy.wa.gov

Special accommodations To request ADA accommodation for

disabilities, or printed materials in a

format for the visually impaired, call

Ecology at 360-407-6700 or visit

www.ecy.wa.gov/accessibility.html.

Persons with impaired hearing may

call Washington Relay Service at

711. Persons with speech disability

may call TTY at 877-833-6341.