a b s t r a c t
A wide spectrum and large number of children’s toys and toy jewelry items were purchased from both
bargain and retail vendors and analyzed for arsenic, cadmium, and lead metal content using multiple
analytical techniques, including flame and furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy as well as X-ray fluorescence
spectroscopy. Particularly dangerous for young children, metal concentrations in toys/toy jewelry
were assessed for compliance with current Consumer Safety Product Commission (CPSC) regulations
(F963-11). A conservative metric involving multiple analytical techniques was used to categorize compliance:
one technique confirmation of metal in excess of CPSC limits indicated a ‘‘suspect’’ item while confirmation
on two different techniques warranted a non-compliant designation. Sample matrix-based
standard addition provided additional confirmation of non-compliant and suspect products. Results suggest
that origin of purchase, rather than cost, is a significant factor in the risk assessment of these materials
with 57% of toys/toy jewelry items from bargain stores non-compliant or suspect compared to only
15% from retail outlets and 13% if only low cost items from the retail stores are compared. While jewelry
was found to be the most problematic product (73% of non-compliant/suspect samples), lead (45%) and
arsenic (76%) were the most dominant toxins found in non-compliant/suspect samples. Using the greater
Richmond area as a model, the discrepancy between bargain and retail children’s products, along with
growing numbers of bargain stores in low-income and urban areas, exemplifies an emerging socioeconomic
public health issue.