Before Christmas, many people may think about shopping for used Christmas presents – something that is good for both the wallet and the environment. However, there are certain gadgets that you should preferably avoid buying second hand – they may contain dangerous chemicals.
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Can be life-threatening
Many gadgets we have in the home can contain dangerous substances. Common ones are PFAS substances, which are often used, among other things, as impregnation of various textiles, leather and paper packaging. PFAS is a collective name for a large group of substances that are used in many everyday products, including clothing, beauty products and frying pans.
Many PFAS substances can be linked to harmful effects. According to The Swedish Medicines Agency it is primarily fetuses, infants and children who are extra sensitive to PFAS. Studies have shown that PFAS substances can affect the immune system, birth weight, cholesterol levels in the blood and liver enzymes.
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You should watch out for these gadgets
For Christmas, many people may choose to buy used Christmas presents. This is something The Swedish Chemicals Agency believes that one should be careful with – above all when it comes to used toys. Old toys can contain dangerous chemicals that can be endocrine disruptors. According to the Swedish Chemicals Agency, this mainly applies to soft plastic toys – such as bath ducks or doll heads.
“In 2013, there were stricter rules for which chemical substances toys may not contain, and many dangerous substances are prohibited in newer toys. The risks are not as great for old toys made of wood and hard plastic as for those made of soft plastic,” the Chemicals Inspectorate writes on its website.
Old soft plastic toys may contain dangerous chemicals. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/T
Other things you should be careful about purchasing are electronics without any known brand. According to the newspaper The work can these “No fire items” – such as headphones, mobile chargers and lamps contain lead – which according to The Nature Conservancy can cause damage to the human nervous system even at low levels.
Then your tools can be dangerous
According to the Work, you should also watch out for tools with rubber parts. If they start to smell strange, it may be because they contain PAHs that can be dangerous in contact with the skin. Then there is a risk of cancer, liver damage, reduced immune system and allergic reactions.
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