Lead in Children’s Toys, Clothing, and Food Banned
Last month, little Jarnell Brown died from lead poisoning after ingesting a heart charm that came with a pair of Reebok shoes. Now Illinois is set to ban “the sale of clothing, accessories, jewelry, decorative objects, candy, food and dietary supplements used by or intended to be used by children if the lead content is more than .06 percent of the total weight. Previously, state law focused on paint, toys and furniture.”
Huh? I would have thought this would be a given! I have two questions.
1. Aren’t manufacturers already taking measures to ensure that these items which come into close contact or are ingested are free of lead?
2. Is the state prepared to enforce the law through frequent and widespread testing of children’s products?
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
BE SAFE FROM HAZARDS
- Cover holes in walls and chipping or peeling paint with duct tape or contact paper. Move beds, cribs, and playpens away from peeling paint. Do not let children play near painted surfaces that often rub together or get bumped, such as doors and windows.
- Do not let children chew on painted furniture. Cover crib rails with a plastic guard to keep children from chewing on them.
- Wash children’s toys, bottles, pacifiers and stuffed animals often. Don’t let children put painted toys in their mouths, unless you know there isn’t lead in the paint.
- Wash children’s hands and faces often, especially before eating and sleeping.
- Serve and store food in lead-free containers, such as glass, stainless steel or plastic. Don’t store food in open cans, especially cans from other countries. Never heat food in cans.
- Avoid folk medicines and cosmetics that contain lead. Greta and Azarcon are used to treat an upset stomach. Pay-loo-ah is a red powder used to treat a rash or fever. They all contain lead.
- Reduce lead exposure from tap water. Only cold water should be used for cooking, drinking and making baby formula. Let the water run for a few minutes or until it feels much colder than your hand before using it.
- Soil and dirt may contain high levels of lead. Watch children when they play and make sure they don’t eat dirt. Avoid bringing soil into the home by making sure everyone removes their shoes outside the home and uses a door mat.
For more information, go to www.leadsafeillinois.org.
Technorati Tags: lead poisoning, lead, children, kids, toys, clothing, jewelry
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POSTED IN: News and Links about Children's Things
6 opinions for Lead in Children’s Toys, Clothing, and Food Banned
Deb L
Apr 24, 2006 at 4:48 pm
What I think is the most sad about the lead in kid’s toys, is that the ones most at risk are the ones who can least afford it. The cheaper trinkets which may be all poorer families can buy for their kids, seem to be the ones imported in bulk and of questionable safety.
I think it really horrid that companies compromise children’s health in the name of profit. All things for children, no matter what it is, or where in the world it is, -should- be safe for our children. :/
Jay
Apr 24, 2006 at 11:10 pm
No, it’s more about making money for businesses than safety. Not everything they make is 100% safe for children. The worst part is that sometimes they are aware of this but release the products anyhow just to make profits. Their theory is to pray that nothing bad happens so they don’t have to recall. If something does happen, then the money lost still is less than what they made. In the end, they still consider it a good move financially. It is foolish to ever believe that businesses have your children’s health in mind.
Lei
Apr 25, 2006 at 3:04 am
Deb L: So true. This world is a harsh place, especially for those who are most vulnerable.
Jay: :( How awful is that? Money does terrible things to people and businesses.
PS Your blog is so funny. ;)
Play Library » Warning: Chuck E. Cheese Disco Light
Jul 1, 2006 at 7:25 am
[...] Cheap toys and trinkets are fun for a while, but many are made with substandard materials that are not only a fire hazard but may contain toxic chemicals like lead. Take care when buying toys and other items for your children. [...]
HELLO234
Aug 21, 2006 at 4:15 pm
We have had a probally lead related incident in our house. Someone was wearing a ring and looked at her finger. IT HAD SWELLED UP LIKE A BALLOON! She screamed in horror and showed it to someone else. It might have been due to a high lead amount. I don’t know anything about the ring so it would be impossible to report it to the cpsc, but I think (not positive!) that it was 3 bucks and had her inital on it.
Hsien-Hsien Lei
Aug 21, 2006 at 6:34 pm
HELLO234: Ouch! I hope she’s ok now.
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