New toxic toy rules still not in effect

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SEATTLE - A new law soon takes effect to keep dangerous chemicals out of toys for children, but it won't help shoppers until after this holiday season.

So what do you buy and what do you steer clear of?

Izilla Toys on Seattle's Capitol Hill, prides itself in offering safe toys. That's one reason why Dagna Rueda of Shoreline drives all the way down to buy for her four-year-old.

“If there's a toy I haven't seen before, I'll give it a glance, see if it's non-toxic. Where it was made and what materials it was made with,” said Rueda.

Washington Toxics Coalition tests a lot of toys for lead, cadmium, phthalates and other chemicals that kids can be exposed to. Costume jewelry is one concern. Toys made of vinyl is another.

"The federal standard right now is 600 parts per million lead for paint, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends toys no more than 40 parts per million lead,” said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, Washington Toxics Coalition.

Toys sold at some stores could still contain lead until new rules go into effect.

Parents are much more aware of what's out there. Kimrick Dolson talks to fellow parents and checks out toy safety Web sites.

“We all kind of talk to one another and feed off of each other as far as where the concerns really lay and don't lay because of all of the parenting Web sites and e-mails going around,” said Dolson.

The new federal safety standards were only passed in August, but will be in full force by next Christmas.