NEW YORK, N.Y. — Toxic heavy metals are still found in packaging materials although several states banned the practice nearly 15 years ago.

More than 60 percent of heavy duty plastic used in the packaging of some cosmetics, toys and pet supplies contain excessive toxic heavy metals that violate laws in 19 states, according to a new study released Tuesday.

Toxic metals also were detected in shopping bags from packages of products mostly imported from Asia, which still uses solvent-based inks that contain these contaminants.

A grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded the study by the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse. Using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer, the organization tested 355 samples representing mostly retail product types, as well as packaging materials, such as glass, aluminum, paper and plastic.

Nineteen states, including California, Florida and New York, have outlawed the intentional addition of these materials into packaging that may make its way into landfills, waste incinerators or recycle streams. Packaging components, such as inks, adhesives and labels are off-limits. These state laws also limit the concentration of the contaminants to 100 parts per million if they are naturally occurring in the raw materials used to make the packaging.

Sixteen percent of the packages tested exceeded the 100 parts per million threshold for one or more restricted metals.

Researchers most often detected lead and cadmium, a carcinogen that can cause cancer. The two materials have often been used to stabilize the degradation of plastics, and in inks and colorants.

Some of the most dramatic results of the testing involved flexible polyvinylchloride (PVC) packages, which is used in the plastic pouches of pet chews or zipper bags containing bedding. Almost all of these tested products originated in Asia.

More than 60 percent of these tested PVC pouches exceeded concentration levels because of cadmium and/or lead.

The organizations alerted companies that sold or distributed packages that failed the tests but some never responded. Companies claimed compliance and submitted documentation for nearly 70 percent of the failed packages.