TROUBLE IN TOYLAND CONSUMER GROUP REPORT CITES HAZARDS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Two toy fire engines, a Barney music keyboard, a Sesame Street talking CD player and a toy gun are among seven toys that are dangerously loud and could pose a hearing hazard to young children, a consumer group said Tuesday.

The California Public Interest Research Group identified the toys in its 16th annual survey on toy safety, ``Trouble in Toyland,'' which said many other toys being sold in stores pose choking hazards for children, the leading cause of toy-related deaths, or contain harmful chemicals.

``The American Academy of Pediatrics says children exposed to 85 decibels or above for a certain amount of time can experience hearing loss,'' said Mary McClelland, CALPIRG'S consumer program coordinator, in a news conference at Antelope Valley Hospital's pediatric unit.

Since 1986, the group says, its surveys have led to more than 100 enforcement actions by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and toy manufacturers.

The seven toys identified as dangerously loud were the Barney Song Magic Keyboard, Electronic Talking Fire Engine, Flame Fighter Rescue Set, Little Smart Tiny Touch Phone Plus, Power Gear Power Saber & Fazer, Power Gear Turbo Blaster, and the Sesame Street Talking CD Player.

The decibel levels for these toys when placed near the ear ranged from 90 to 103, the report said.

There have been 207 toy-related deaths since 1990, 59 percent caused by choking. The number of toy choking deaths has gone down, however, from 14 in 1990 to six in 2000, the report said.

The total number of toy-related deaths overall also has declined, from 23 in 1990 to 17 last year, the report said.

Dr. Nancy Mackenzie, a pediatrician at the Kaiser Permanente Lancaster clinic, said small toys and pieces from popped latex balloons are life- threatening choking hazards. She warned parents to watch their small children, especially in households where older siblings' toys pose a danger.

``The youngest needs to be supervised when they play with toys. You have to make sure older children's toys are separated from little toddlers,'' Mackenzie said.

Using a ``choke test tube,'' about the size of a toilet paper roll tube, McClelland showed toy erasers and small toy key chains that fit inside, which indicate they are choking hazards.

Of the 123 incidents of choking deaths chronicled by the group, 57 were caused by balloons, 32 by a toy or toy part, 29 by balls and five by marbles, the report said.

The report also warned of teethers and infant toys that contain chemicals called phthalates, which are added to PVC plastic toys as a softener.

The chemicals have been linked to liver and kidney damage, are probable human carcinogens, and have been banned by several European countries in toys for children under the age of 3, the report said.

The group also surveyed online toy retailers and found that none posted statutory choke hazard warning labels, legally required to appear on toys sold in stores, on their Web sites.

``That's definitely a problem,'' given the 22 percent increase in online retail toy sales between 1999 and 2000, McClelland said.

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3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) CALPIRG's Mary McClelland shows some of the small toys the group says can be dangerous to children. Since 1986, the group says, its surveys have led to more than 100 federal enforcement actions.

(2 -- color) Mary McClelland shows a toy gun she says can be dangerously loud and could pose a hearing hazard to young children.

(3 -- color -- ran in AV edition only) Mary McClelland uses a ``choke test tube'' to indicate toys that could pose a hazard.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer