Are plastic teething toys releasing volatile chemicals?

What's actually in it

Plastic toys aren't just solid objects. They are complex mixtures of materials that can release volatile substances (chemicals that easily turn into gas or vapor) when your baby chews on them. These chemicals don't stay trapped inside the plastic. Instead, they can move from the toy into your baby's mouth.

Because these toys are designed to be gnawed on, the plastic is constantly exposed to saliva and pressure. This process can cause the release of unknown chemical compounds that weren't part of the original design. Many of these substances are not clearly labeled, leaving parents in the dark about what their children are actually ingesting.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Talanta used high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify unknown volatile substances in plastic toys. The research confirms that these products release a variety of chemicals that can be detected and analyzed.

While the focus of this science is on identifying these hidden compounds, the findings make it clear that plastic is not a stable material for teething. When you combine this with findings from a 2026 study in Food Chem, which shows how easily chemicals transfer from plastic materials, it becomes obvious that plastic teething toys pose a risk of chemical exposure. This peer-reviewed research highlights that the materials we give our children are not as safe as the industry claims.