She said because the toys were colourful and attractive they would appeal to children.
"We need to raise awareness of parents and second-hand shop dealers that this item is highly dangerous and banned from the market worldwide.
"I am aware of problems that some modern dolls may have, so if any op shops have any concerns before they put a children's item for sale I would be happy to answer their question to the best of my knowledge free of charge," she said.
A spokesman for the company that produced the dolls said it had seized hundreds of the dolls during the past two years, trying to take them out of circulation, but it was still getting reports of the dolls being sold at markets.
University of Auckland Toxicology Department associate professor Malcolm Tingle said phthalates were used as plasticisers in PVC.
There was considerable data on the toxicity of chemicals such as DEHP. However, humans seemed to be relatively insensitive to their biological effects.
"There is much disagreement as to whether endocrine disrupters such as phthalates are in general problematic based on simple pharmacological and toxicological principles," Mr Tingle said.
The International Agency for research on Cancer has classified DEHP as the most common bad boy of the phthalate world because it is thought to be responsible for tumours in mice and rats. It did not have the same effect on humans.
"So, will a child get cancer through exposure to a toy containing phthalates?
"No," he said.
