TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Consumers' Foundation (CF) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) yesterday released findings that reveal harmful levels of plasticizers and heavy metals in popular toy dolls for children.

The survey conducted by the CF sampled 28 different toys and found in two separate toy models, plasticizer levels 126 times greater than the national safety standard. A different toy product was found to contain heavy metals levels 2.8 times over the safe amount.

The samples from the survey were taken from wholesale chains, toy stores and online shopping websites. Six out of 28 toys failed to meet regulation standards, two of which had plasticizer levels of 11.7 percent and 12.6 percent - numbers which grossly exceed the national safety standard of 0.1 percent.

Among the harmful toys is a doll dressed in traditional Korean clothing nicknamed, "Asian Grace" from the Taiwan Toy 'R' Us and a coin bank in the same of a sea creature from the Fubon Home Shopping Channel "momo."

The foundation pointed out that while plastic material goods often use plasticizers to increase flexibility, phthalates-a component of plasticizer-is a type of environmental hormone that can potentially disrupt a child's endocrine system by increasing a girl's risk of breast cancer. Heavy metals were also detected in the "Asian Grace" Korean-style dolls, with lead content at 251 ppm, far exceeding the national safety standard of 90 ppm. If swallowed, lead can cause damage to the nervous system and induce acute poisoning. The foundation called for businesses to abide by safety regulations and demanded that they return or destroy the harmful toys.

The inspection also discovered five other products that failed to meet regulation standards, with reasons ranging from unmarked batch numbers, missing manufacturer addresses, warning signs and appropriate age range for play.

The foundation reminded parents to pay to attention to the writings on the price tags and look out for the seal of safety. Parents should also prevent their infants from chewing or placing the toys in their mouths lest they accidentally ingest harmful plasticizers or heavy metals.