Toy safety report finds some dangers

WASHINGTON - Consumer advocates are out with a holiday-season warning about some toys that could be dangerous to children.

A report found that just over a dozen toys on store shelves that violate federal safety standards for lead and chemicals called phthalates or could present a choking hazard to small children. The toys deemed potentially dangerous included a whirly wheel, a plastic book for babies, a wooden blocks set and a Sesame Street Oscar doll.

The consumer organization, known as the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, warned about toys that are too loud and could lead to hearing damage as well as balloons, which cause more choking deaths than any other children's product.

The toy industry downplayed the report and pointed to government figures showing sharp declines in national toy recalls.