Do plastic toys release invisible chemicals that children can breathe in?

What's actually in it

Plastic toys are made from PVC, ABS, polyethylene, and polypropylene, mixed with colorants, stabilizers, and plasticizers. These chemicals don't stay locked inside the plastic. They slowly release into the air as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). You smell some of them as that "new toy" smell, but many are odorless and invisible. Children playing with these toys are breathing them in at close range.

What the research says

A 2026 study in a non-targeted analysis used GC-Orbitrap mass spectrometry combined with trained scent panels to detect unknown volatile substances released from plastic toys. The researchers didn't just look for chemicals already on a watchlist. They searched for everything coming off the toys, known or unknown.

They found dozens of volatile compounds. Some were known chemicals like plasticizers and solvents. But many were previously unidentified substances that have never been tested for toxicity. These mystery chemicals are floating around nurseries and playrooms, and no one knows what they do to a developing child's body.

The study showed that soft, flexible toys released more VOCs than hard ones, likely because soft plastics contain more plasticizer additives. Brightly colored toys also released more compounds, suggesting the dyes and pigments contribute additional chemicals.

Children are especially vulnerable because they handle toys for hours, put them near their faces, and breathe at a faster rate than adults. A toy sitting in a warm room or a car releases even more chemicals into the air.