Ministry issues recall: Plastic toys and slimes contain harmful chemicals

The Ministry of Trade inspected toys on the market and found that some toys contained chemicals such as lead and phthalates far above the legal limits. These substances, which threaten health, are most commonly found in products children love, such as slime, stickers, and rubber balls.

Speaking to ATV Ana Haber, Oncology Specialist Prof. Dr. Didem Taştekin said regarding the lead and phthalate substances detected in the toys, "They can cause cancer and are the cause of many cancers. Lead is one of the most harmful heavy metals. It is a substance that causes Alzheimer's, fatigue, dementia, and weakness."

Discussing the harms of phthalates found in plastics, the expert stated, "Phthalate is a substance generally found in plastics. It is also found in some toys; when it accumulates in the body in excess, it can cause many diseases such as liver cancer, liver failure, Alzheimer's, and anemia in children."

The Ministry also decided to recall some toys that can easily break apart and clothing with beads. Prof. Taştekin warned families, saying, "Do not buy clothing that can break apart or has beads, because a child does not know better and wants to explore everything by putting it in their mouth, so they should not even bring them into their homes."

Among the items decided to be recalled are costume jewelry, room fragrances, and stickers. Even plastic ducks were found to contain phthalates, a harmful substance. One of the products the Ministry of Trade decided to recall is the paint from this brand. The reason is the use of excessive lead in creating the navy blue color.

Another product that came under the radar of the Ministry of Trade was slime; it was decided that the slime of some brands should be recalled as they contain heavy metals.