over 100 items including children 's jewellery , floor mats , kitchen utensils and silly straws contained either harmful plastics , metals or chemicals .
many of the chemicals can be absorbed through ingestion and skin exposure , with children at risk due to their very high hand to mouth ratio .
a study of four discount retailers in the us found 81 % of the products tested contained at least one hazardous chemical ` above levels of concern '
ceo of australian college of environmental studies , nicole bijlsma , said the accc 's active chemical inspection program was ` not good enough '