The 1990s might not feel that long ago, but it can be daunting to think how quickly time has passed and how much has changed. Especially in terms of items and practices that were commonplace, many things simply wouldn’t be safe today, including the following 18 examples.
Lack of Safety Features in Cars
Cars have come a long way in recent years, and nowhere is that more true than in safety features. In the 90s, there was a lack of advanced airbags, known crumple zones in old cars, and even a lack of regulations regarding child seat safety—all of which wouldn’t be acceptable today.
Lawn Darts
Lawn Darts were a popular pastime in the 1990s and an enjoyable family game—until they weren’t. Those metal-tipped darts were a serious injury risk, and after 675 emergency room visits a year, the NIH revealed, they were eventually banned. Good riddance!
Flammable Furniture
Furniture in the 1990s used to have very unsafe fire safety regulations due to the use of highly flammable chemicals and materials. This meant that house fire risks were exponentially bigger in the 1990s, while today, we have stricter regulations for home and furniture safety.
Leaded Gasoline
Leaded gasoline is another thing from the 90s that wouldn’t be considered safe today, as it caused high levels of pollution from exhaust fumes. This, of course, led to negative health consequences, especially with children. Nowadays, unleaded gasoline is the safer norm.
Toy Safety Standards
Toys in the 1990s were also much more dangerous, partially due to their toxic materials and choking hazards. The lack of toy regulations meant that ‘90s kids were exposed to many unsafe toys, but thankfully, modern toys have improved safety considerably thanks to thorough testing.
Trampolines Without Safety Nets
If you grew up in the 90s, you might remember never having a safety net when you were happily spending time on a trampoline – and only hindsight tells us how dangerous that actually was! These days, adequate padding and netting are the very least required for trampoline safety.
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Monitors
We all remember those heavy, bulky CRT monitors back in the 90s. Aside from their high risk of tipping over onto your foot, they were dangerous for another reason: their emission of low-level radiation and eye strain. These days, unsafe CRTs have been replaced with more ergonomic options. Thank goodness for that!
Thermostats with Mercury
Modern technology has given us a wealth of digital thermostats, which are extremely efficient and much safer than they used to be. However, in the 1990s, thermostats came with mercury, which could pose health risks if they leaked, not to mention environmental contamination when disposed of!
Building Materials Containing Asbestos
Asbestos was another incredibly unsafe material from the 1990s, but it was commonly used in insulation for homes and other building needs. Eventually, it was linked to extremely serious health issues, but, surprisingly, the U.S. only recently banned asbestos, as National Geographic points out.
Riding Without a Bicycle Helmets
Most kids – and even adults – in the 90s would be seen bike riding without a bicycle helmet, and it was simply the norm back then. Nowadays, more awareness of head injuries means riding without any kind of helmet is no longer considered safe, and some are even pushing for improved laws.
Cereals with High Sugar Content
Another thing considered too unsafe from the 1990s is cereals with a high sugar content—something not easily considered to be dangerous but posing significant health risks. Cereals of the 1990s were heavily marketed towards children, which meant rising obesity and poor nutrition. Yikes!
Non-Filtered Cigarettes
Before filtered cigarettes, there was an even higher risk of health problems from smoking thanks to the non-filtered variety, which included higher levels of nicotine and tar. Since the 90s, there have been more regulations and even laws against smoking, with the first ban in 1990, according to the CDC. Hopefully, that continues!
Secondhand Smoke
Not only was smoking more dangerous back in the ’90s, but the decade also came with risks for everyone else standing close by. Secondhand smoke was a prevalent issue in public spaces, especially with children, but now, non-smokers don’t have to worry about the health complications of a habit they don’t have.
Playground Equipment
Another thing from the 90s that is no longer considered safe is how playground equipment used to be, and in hindsight, sliding down a metal slide on a hot day probably wasn’t the best idea. Lack of soft surfaces, as well as far too much sharp metal, meant injuries were common.
Chemicals and Pesticides in Lawn Care
Lawn products with chemicals and pesticides used to be the norm, but modern science has taught us how harmful those chemicals really were—including their long-term negative health effects. Environmental awareness has improved since the 1990s, and there are now plenty of safer lawn care solutions.
Unanchored Furniture
Nowadays, you can’t buy new furniture without anchoring tools and instructions supplied to ensure it doesn’t tip over, but back in the 90s, that certainly wasn’t the case! Heavy furniture was unsecured, meaning it could tip and fall at any time.
Portable Cribs and Playpens
The older designs of cribs and playpens from the 1990s carried many hazards, including potential suffocation or even getting trapped inside. There are now more regulations on children’s products, and many models have been banned since the 1990s because of their safety risks. That’s insane!
Baby Walkers
One last item from the 1990s that’s no longer considered safe is the baby walker. As Harvard Health reports, over 230,000 children ended up in the ER between 1990 and 2014 with walker injuries. Now, they’ve been better replaced with stationery baby equipment, which is a huge relief.