Toxic toys and other children’s products containing harmful ingredients require an extensive overhaul of the legislation that governs them, says a new U.S. scientific paper.

Calling the epidemic of recalls of these products a “crisis,” U.S. researchers at the University of Massachusetts, and Monica Becker and Associates Sustainability Consultants say the current response by government, advocacy and industry groups has been inadequate in restricting the entry of toxic toys into the market.

“Much of the response to the toxic toys crisis has been reactive and piecemeal,” write the authors. “Taken as a whole, these responses have not been sufficient to ensure that toys and children’s products are safe.”

The paper, published in ACS Publications’ Environmental Science & Technology, a semi-monthly journal, says that in the past three years, 17 million toys have been recalled in the U.S. over high lead levels.

Other toxic substances commonly found in toys include:

* Cadmium and phthalates (which can harm the reproductive system).
* Brominated flame retardants and azo dyes (easily absorbed dyes linked to cancer).
* Bisphenol A (suspected of being toxic to the brain and reproductive system).

Health Canada’s consumer product safety website has almost daily additions of recalled toys, often due to toxic substances.