Sound check in Toyland

Concern is growing over the noise emitted by some toys

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- They beep, buzz and bleat. They chatter, chirp and chime. They rattle and ring. And now, reports say, when it comes to noise, many toys have way too much zing.

"I think people are ... coming to a consensus that it's not good for children to be in loud noise environments over long periods of time," said Dr. Earl Harley, a pediatric ear nose and throat specialist at Georgetown University Medical Center.

There are no federal standards that regulate acceptable noise levels for most children's toys, although the Consumer Product Safety Commission has limited caps and guns to 138 decibels. Even that, advocates say, is too loud. Noise over 140 decibels causes pain.

"Toys can't be louder than 138 decibels when it's measured at 25 centimeters (10 inches) from the surface," noted Nancy Nadler, a spokeswomen for the League for the Hard of Hearing. "Well, 138 decibels is like a jackhammer."

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to provide hearing protection for employees whose work environment measures at 90 decibels.

Some toys, however, make much more noise than that.

One toy cell phone tested at 112.6 decibels at the Georgetown University Medical Center. A megaphone featuring a variety of electronic noises registered even higher -- at 131 decibels.

Both were tested at closer range than the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recommended 10-inch limit. Children often hold toys very close to their ears, experts warn.

"Toy telephones are commonly louder than 90 decibels," said Rachel Weintraub, a staff attorney for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. "If a toy that's held to an adult's ear hurts, it's too loud for children."

Children's toy phones like this one can easily exceed 100 decibels

U.S. PIRG, which released its annual report on toy safety last week, notes that noise level is just one of the many issues parents must grapple with when shopping for potential additions to their children's toy collections.

A toy industry spokeswoman said toys are produced within current guidelines, and suggested that parents keep a close ear on the toys with which their children play.

"A parent should always keep in mind how a child is playing with a toy and evaluate whether they want the child to play with that toy or not," said Terri Bartlett, a spokeswoman for the Toy Manufacturers of America.

Yes, parents do have a responsibility to protect their children, U.S. PIRG's Weintraub said. But that's not enough.

"While the toy industry seems to be punting the responsibility to the parents, it's in their interest to (make a safe product)," she said. "What they really should do is make sure their toys aren't too loud."

Making unsafe or potentially dangerous toys available in the marketplace "makes everyone's job harder," Weintraub said.

CNN Correspondent Jonathan Aiken and CNN.com Health Writer Michele Dula Baum contributed to this report.

Three toy companies recall products amid injury reports
July 23, 2000
Consumer group cites unsafe toys, urges shopper caution
November 23, 1999
Parents group says toys becoming more violent
November 23, 1998

U.S. Public Interest Research Group: Trouble in Toyland
Consumer Product Safety Commission
League for the Hard of Hearing
Toy Manufacturers of America

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