Can plastic toys release volatile chemicals children breathe?

What's actually in it

Plastic toys can be made from PVC, ABS, TPR, polyethylene, polypropylene, colorants, stabilizers, and plasticizers.

Some chemicals can release into air as volatile substances. Children may breathe them at close range while playing, especially with new, soft, or strongly scented toys.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Talanta used GC-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry to screen volatile substances from 56 plastic toys.

The researchers identified 216 volatile substances. They also prioritized 16 higher-risk substances based on detection rate, average peak area, and hazardousness. Diisobutyl phthalate was above the 0.1% threshold in 5 PVC toys and 1 TPR toy.

This does not mean every plastic toy is dangerous. It does support a simple rule: choose fewer plastic toys, air out new toys before play, keep strongly scented toys away from babies, and pick solid wood, cotton, or silicone options when they fit the use.