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Improvement Urged for Children’s Balance Bikes As 40% Did Not Comply with EU Toy Safety Standard All Models Found with Harmful Substance PAHs 4 Exceeded Upper Limit of German GS Mark Certification

  • 2022.09.15

When riding balance bikes, children need to continuously glide with both legs outstretched, not only training their balance and muscle coordination, but also allowing them to experience the joy of cycling. The Consumer Council tested the safety of chemical, mechanical and physical performances of 15 balance bike models on the market. 3 models were detected with phthalates, amongst which the phthalate DEHP amount found in the material of 1 model even exceeded the limits set out in Hong Kong and the EU REACH Regulation by 18 times, possibly hindering the normal growth of children. Besides, when children ride balance bikes, their skin might come into contact with different parts of the bike. If the materials of the bike parts contain harmful chemical substances, they might pose health risks to children. All models in the test were detected with different types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and some of them have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. In the mechanical and physical performance test, 40% (6 models) failed to comply with the requirements of the EU Toy Safety Standard.

The Council calls for manufacturers to improve product designs to ensure product safety, while minimising the amount of phthalates and PAHs in products, or switch to use materials that are free from phthalates and PAHs, so as to strengthen safeguard for the health of children. Furthermore, as there is currently no upper limit of PAHs set for toys and children’s products in Hong Kong, the Council recommends the authorities to review the need to regulate the content of PAHs in toys and children’s products by making reference to the relevant EU regulations.

With 5 points being the highest, 8 of the tested models received an overall rating of 4 points or above, amongst which 7 had a retail price of less than $1,000. On the contrary, out of the 7 models rated 3 points or less due to the unsatisfactory safety performance and/or incompliance with the requirements in the mechanical and physical safety tests, over half (4 models) were priced at $1,100 or above. Therefore, parents should not purely base their decision on the price when purchasing balance bikes for their children, but instead should carefully compare and shrewdly select suitable products that are both good in quality and affordable.

The 15 tested balance bikes were all 2-wheeled models with retail prices ranging from $299 to $1,700, labelled as suitable for children aged 18 months to 6 years old. Balance bikes are similar to traditional bicycles except without the pedals. Its structure mainly comprises the front and back wheels, frame, saddle, and grip handles. Test items included the phthalates and PAHs contents, and the mechanical and physical performances, while the warnings on the product labelling were also reviewed. The test on PAH content also referenced the German voluntary certification scheme GS Mark to assess whether the models complied with the relevant requirement, based on the duration of skin contact with different parts of the balance bike, and whether the contact is repetitive.

Phthalate Content of 1 Model Exceeded the Upper Limit by 18 Times

All Models Detected with PAHs Including Some Types Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans

Phthalates are often added to plastic to increase their elasticity and durability, yet some phthalates could pose health risks. For example, research studies have shown that DEHP could possibly hinder the normal growth of children, and may also damage the male reproductive system. According to the test results, 3 models were detected with DEHP at concentrations ranging from 0.02% to 1.9%, of which the highest concentration of 1 model even exceeded the upper limit (0.1%) set out in Hong Kong regulations and the EU REACH Regulation by 18 times. The Council has referred the relevant test results to the Customs and Excise Department for follow-up.

Research studies have pointed out that many PAHs would affect human health, while the severity depended on various factors such as the intake amount, method of contact, exposure duration, etc. Some types of PAHs have even been classified as carcinogens or possible carcinogens. Furthermore, some PAHs could possibly cause irritation. Individuals more prone to allergic reactions might develop dermatitis upon contact with their skin.

Children would hold the grip handles and touch the saddle of the bike when using the balance bikes. If these parts contain PAHs, children might absorb such substances though skin contact. With reference to the requirements of GS Mark, the Council examined whether the models contained the 15 restricted PAHs, and accessed the models against the upper limit set for each category of skin contact duration, including Category 1 long-term skin contact (longer than 30 seconds), and Category 2A short-term repeated skin contact. The results revealed that the grip handles and/or saddle materials of all models were detected with 8 types of restricted PAHs respectively. For the long-term skin contact part, the total sum of 15 PAHs in 3 models ranged from 1.2mg/kg to 4.05mg/kg, which exceeded the safety limit (1mg/kg) set by GS Mark on Category 1 toy materials. Amongst these models, the saddle material of 1 model was detected with benzo[ghi]perylene (0.58mg/kg) which exceeded the relevant limit set by GS Mark (0.2mg/kg).

On the other hand, children might occasionally touch the parts under the saddle or the sides of the grip handles during play. As such, they are considered as parts with repeated short-term skin contact. In the test, the material on both ends of the grip handles of 1 model was detected with benzo[a]anthracene and chrysene (detected amounts were 0.27mg/kg and 0.26mg/kg respectively), while the saddle base part of another model was detected with naphthalene (2.7mg/kg), all of which did not comply with the upper limit of the German GS Mark’s requirements for Category 2A materials (benzo[a]anthracene and chrysene: 0.2mg/kg; naphthalene: 2mg/kg). As naphthalene, benzo[a]anthracene and chrysene have all been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as group 2B agents, i.e. possibly carcinogenic to humans, they would pose health risks to children.

40% Models Did Not Comply with EU Toy Safety Standard

Over 60% of Which Cost More than $1,000

In terms of the mechanical and physical safety, 6 models did not comply with the requirements set out in the EU Toy Safety Standard EN 71-1, a situation that was far from desirable. Amongst these models, the foam ornament on the handlebar of 1 model was damaged and broke into small parts in the tension test simulating reasonably foreseeable abuse. The tyre inflation valve caps of 2 models were easily twisted open and loosened when using a relatively small force in the torque test, forming small parts and failing to comply with the standard’s requirements. If children accidentally swallow the small parts, it could cause suffocation. The space between the wheel and bicycle frame of 4 models ranged from 5mm to 12mm, which did not comply with the requirements of the relevant standard and could pose risks of trapping children’s fingers or toes. The front basket of 1 model even had sharp points, which might cause cut wounds upon accidental contact.

When purchasing and letting children play with balance bikes, consumers should pay heed to the following:

  • When purchasing balance bikes online, consumers should proactively enquire whether they are “authorised imported” goods, as well as the maintenance and repair arrangements. As some non-local online shops might not be regulated by local legislation, balance bikes sold by them might not comply with the requirements of Hong Kong’s “Toys and Children’s Products Safety Ordinance” or relevant safety standards. If the e-shop did not provide information on the manufacturer or importer, it will be difficult to follow up and seek redress should problems with the product arise;
  • When purchasing or letting children ride secondhand balance bikes, parents should first inspect whether the structure is sturdy, the tread wear condition of the tyres, whether all parts are intact, etc., in order to assess whether the product is safe to use;
  • Parents should assemble the balance bike according to the instruction manual and ensure all parts are securely installed. Children should also wear appropriate protective gear such as a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads when riding balance bikes;
  • Children should only ride balance bikes in safe and suitable locations. To prevent accidents, one should never ride on roads, crowded places, or slippery and uneven surfaces;
  • Parents should always keep an eye on their children, so as to prevent them from injuring themselves and others if they lose control of the balance bike;
  • Although children might not absorb large amounts of phthalates and PAHs through the skin due to contact with the grip handles or saddle of the balance bike, they might touch their mouth or food after touching the aforementioned parts, thus ingesting phthalates or PAHs through the mouth. Therefore, parents should teach their children to wash their hands immediately after using balance bikes, to prevent ingesting harmful substances.

 

Download the article (Chinese only):  https://ccchoice.org/551balancebike

 

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