Rubber ducks seized at LA, Long Beach Ports due to unsafe chemical

LOS ANGELES

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers worked with Consumer Product Safety Commission investigators to seize the toys on Tuesday.

Customs officials said the toy ducks, which were dressed as Santa Claus, snowmen, reindeer and penguins, contained higher-than-allowed levels of phthalates, chemicals used to make vinyl and other plastics more flexible.

Authorities say the chemical is harmful to the health of children. The CPSC strictly regulates the level of phthalates in kids' toys.

The seized toys had a domestic value of $18,522.

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