SPRINGFIELD – It’s a fact. A simple balloon is one of the most dangerous things to give a young child.

That conclusion is from this year’s “Trouble in Toyland” report. For the 33rd year MassPIRG has presented the findings of a national study about toy study, and despite some progress in making toys safer, there is clearly room for improvements.

Sarah Vonk of MassPIRG released the national study local at a press event at Springfield Partners for Community Action on Nov. 20.

Vonk said, “No one should worry if the toy they are buying is toxic or hazardous.”

Over the years there have ben 150 recalls thanks to the outcome of the annual reports, she added.

Toys that can cause choking, poisoning, hearing loss and privacy issues were at the top of the list.

Balloons are common small toys that can cause choking, Vonk said. She explained that some balloon packaging has warnings, but some do not.

Vonk pointed out that new smart toys could be delivering data about you and your child to third parties. The report noted: “For the 2018 holiday season, the Mozilla Foundation investigated whether popular toys and games meet their minimum security and privacy standards. We highlight two toys that failed to meet some of the Mozilla Foundation criteria. Dash, a robot toy sold by Wonder Workshop, connects to applications via Bluetooth, has a microphone, and has various features that allow children to actively engage with the toy.

“However, according to the Mozilla Foundation investigation, the toy shares your information with third parties.”

The report continued, “Amazon’s popular children’s tablet, ‘Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition,’ has similar issues. The device can share a child’s private information with third parties for advertising purposes, and the tablet does not delete the data it stores on you. The Mozilla Foundation puts it in stark terms: ‘Amazon gets to know your kid from cradle on.’”

Vonk had on hand an innocent-looking plastic toy airplane that produces sounds at decibel levels to create hearing loss. According to the report, “Our researchers discovered one handheld toy that produced continuous sound in excess of 85 decibels in repeated tests – a toy plane manufactured by Haktoys and sold on Amazon, ‘Haktoys ATS Battery Operated Bump & Go Action F-182 Fighter Jet 8-inch Plane.’”

Slime products are popular and Vonk said these can contain unregulated amounts of boron which if ingested can cause nausea. Other countries have regulations concerning the amount of boron allowed, but the United States doesn’t.

State Rep. Jose Tosado attended the announcement and said having a child endangered by a toy is “every parent’s, every grandparent’s nightmare.”

State Sen. James Welch, the parent of two young sons starting to explore the Internet, commented that parents need to know what their children are doing on-line.

U.S. PIRG’s website, www.toysafetytips.org, recommends parents to do the following:

• Toys with sound: “If a toy is too loud for you, it could be loud enough to damage your child’s hearing. Turn off the sound, remove batteries or return the toy.”

• Slime: “Some slimes contain high levels of toxic boron. Consider making safe alternatives without borax, or monitor kids at all times and call Poison Control if any is ingested.”

• Fidget spinners: “Some things, such as fidget spinners or kids’ makeup, are not classified as toys, avoiding safety standards. These products could have higher levels of lead, choking hazards and other hidden dangers. Avoid these “toys,” or at a minimum watch your kid closely when playing with them.”

• Toys with small parts: “Toys marketed to six and above may contain small parts that pose choking hazards for younger children. Look for age guidelines. Before your child plays with a toy for the first time, see if smaller parts fit through a toilet paper roll – indicating they pose a choking hazard.”

• Hatching toys: “Toys with break-apart packaging can result in choking hazards for small children. Monitor when the packaging is being broken and dispose of the pieces.”

• Balloons: “Never let a child under three play with balloons, and monitor any child under 8, as balloons are the #1 choking hazard for children.”

• Smart toys: “Sites, apps, games and smart toys might be collecting private data from your child, and some could be hacked, posing a safety risk. Consider running these without connections to the Internet, evaluate privacy policies when you first start them, and monitor use.”

• Makeup: “We found asbestos in Claire's makeup last year. As makeup lacks necessary safety standards, we recommend you avoid makeup for children, or at a minimum avoid any makeup with talc in it, which can be a source of asbestos.”

• Toys with small magnets: “Swallowed magnets can cause serious internal damage by bunching together. Keep away from young children and monitor older children when they are playing with toys containing magnets.”

• Older Toys: “Check www.SaferProducts.gov to ensure the toy wasn’t recalled due to potential toxics or other hazards.”