Toys are one of the few forms of entertainment available to children in Dhaka, where there is a scarcity of playgrounds.
However, unscrupulous businessmen are turning these toys into poisonous “deadly weapons”, exposing children to harmful substances.
Due to a lack of quality control and regulation by the Bangladesh government, excessive levels of harmful chemicals such as cadmium, barium, chromium, arsenic, and others are being used in the production of toys and children’s products.
These chemicals are damaging children’s physical health, including their kidneys, and impairing mental development, particularly in those aged 0 to 6.
In response, the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has started work, and the Department of Environment has pledged to take urgent action, according to relevant authorities.
The Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) published data showing that 80% of children’s toys contain harmful substances, with most of these toys imported from China.
The findings were revealed by a research team from ESDO and BAN Toxics, a Philippines-based organization.
Key findings from ESDO’s XRF analysis indicated that all 150 tested samples contained one or more hazardous chemicals, including mercury, lead, bromine, cadmium, arsenic, and other harmful substances like heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
These products were collected from various shops in Chawkbazar, Newmarket, and Bashundhara City.
The study highlighted that the European Union has strict limits on toxic substances in toys: lead (90ppm), mercury (60ppm), cadmium (75ppm), chromium (60ppm), arsenic (25ppm), and barium (250ppm).
In contrast, a children’s water cup—an everyday essential—was found to contain 1,380ppm of lead, 247ppm of arsenic, and 1,390ppm of chromium.
A stationery bag commonly used by children contained 580ppm of lead, 1,280ppm of barium, and 88ppm of mercury, turning a child’s school supplies into hidden health hazards.
Similarly, a children’s doll set was found to contain 160ppm of lead and 1,500ppm of chromium, while a children’s mug contained 220ppm of lead, 315 ppm of cadmium, and 1,680ppm of chromium.
Even toys purchased from high-end stores were not free from harmful chemicals. For example, a doll set from a well-known toy shop contained around 500ppm of lead.
In various markets like Gulistan, Newmarket, and Mirpur’s “Hope Market,” sellers continue to openly sell these toxic toys and products.
Ashiq, a toy seller in front of Gulistan’s shopping complex, said: “We bring these toys from Chawkbazar and Shakharibazar. Many buyers prefer these toys because they are available at low prices, but we don’t know how they’re made. I just sell what’s available.”
Buyers also seem unaware of the risks posed by these toys.
When asked about an “Alphabet Set” toy purchased for his two-year-old son Ahsan from a street vendor near Gulistan GPO intersection, Shahadat said: “We all want our children to be happy. In our time, we had playgrounds, but now there’s no such opportunity in Dhaka city, so we rely on toys. We don’t know how these toys are made, and I wonder why the government isn’t taking action on toys made with harmful materials.”
Health impacts
Exposure to heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium poses serious health risks to children, especially those under six.
These substances can affect physical, cognitive, and neurological development. Lead exposure can cause developmental delays, cognitive impairments, and kidney damage.
Cadmium affects respiratory function, kidney health, and bone density, while mercury causes neurological damage and respiratory issues. Chromium is linked to skin irritation and cancer risks.
These chemicals can easily enter children’s bodies through contaminated toys and products, increasing the likelihood of chronic health conditions due to frequent hand-to-mouth behavior.
ESDO’s Secretary General, Dr Shahriar Hossain, called for stricter legislation to control the use of recycled plastics in toys, saying: “The use of recycled plastic in children’s toys is alarming because it introduces harmful chemicals like heavy metals into products that children are exposed to daily. These materials should not be repurposed into items meant for kids. We need urgent action to ban the use of recycled plastics in toys and ensure that children’s products are free from toxic substances. The safety and well-being of our children must come first.”
Jashaf Shamir Lorenzo, deputy executive director of BAN Toxics, and Thony Dizon, its toxics campaigner, issued a joint statement on the matter.
It says: “BAN Toxics is honored to partner with ESDO in addressing the issue of toxic chemicals in children’s products. Protecting children’s rights to a safe environment is one of our primary advocacies. Our joint study highlights a troubling reality—our children are exposed daily to various toxic chemicals that can affect their development and long-term health.
“The same toys found in local markets in Bangladesh are also sold openly in other Asian countries like the Philippines. This sheds light on the transboundary nature of the problem and the need for regional and global approaches to ensure that unsafe products are removed from our markets. Concerned agencies must ensure that adequate product standards are in place, and the enforcement of such policies must become a priority to give our children a toxic-free future.”
Syed Marghub Murshed, retired secretary, former chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and chairperson of ESDO, emphasized the seriousness of the issue, saying: “The presence of such hazardous chemicals in children’s products is an urgent public health issue. Since the Bangladesh government currently lacks policies for the production and import of toys, we are urging the government to take action swiftly to protect our future generations from these invisible threats.”
Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Prof Dr Mahbub Motannabi from BSSMU's Department of Pediatrics said that toxic chemicals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium in toys pose serious risks to children's vital organs, including the brain, kidneys, and lungs. Lead, often found in paints, can cause cancer and brain damage in children, especially when toys are put in their mouths. These harmful chemicals are also present in food, but their presence in toys is particularly concerning.
Dr Mahbub stressed the need for greater awareness among parents and stronger oversight by the Directorate of Health, BSTI, and the Directorate of Environment to ensure safer toy production and importation.
What the authorities say
Md Abul Kalam Azad, deputy director (Exemptions) of the Department of Environment (Headquarters), expressed alarm over the use of harmful substances in children’s toys, saying: “We issue clearances to toy manufacturing factories based on air quality and chemical removal in water. However, we do not monitor the chemicals used in toy production. Moreover, very few factories seek clearance—perhaps only eight last year. Most factories produce toys without a license. We don’t have much information in this regard, but we will take immediate action.”
Nurul Amin, director of BSTI, said: “The BSTI is currently working on the quality testing of 299 products, but toys are not yet included in our testing list. However, we have started working on this, and we are formulating policies for toy production and import according to international standards. We are also observing production and import policies from other countries to guide our actions.”