Other sources of lead poisoning
Surprisingly enough, manufacturers continue to produce toys, jewelry and candy that contain lead. Some of these products use lead paint while others are lead-filled, but all are dangerous to our children.
Over 2 million children's products have been recalled because of lead paint, including toys and candy wrappers. Even though lead paint has been banned in the United Sates since 1978—and is banned in the use of consumer products under the Federal Hazardous Substance Act (FHSA)—of the 49 children's products recalled since 1990, 59% were recalled because of the presence of lead paint.
Children's toys and jewelry may also contain "elemental lead." Currently, there are no regulations banning the use of lead, even in children's products. Instead, the FHSA states toys and other products intended for use by children that contain a hazardous amount of accessible lead are banned hazardous products. Thus, a children's product can be made entirely of lead as long as it is covered with a protective coating that prevents the lead from becoming "accessible."
Recently, over 152 million pieces of cheap jewelry sold in vending machines were recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) because the coating that was to keep the lead from leaking out proved ineffective when children put it in their mouths or swallowed them. One 4-year-old victim suffered from lead poisoning after accidentally swallowing a pendant he bought for a quarter in a gumball machine. Unfortunately, even a small amount of lead that is ingested can cause irreversible damage.
For more information about lead in toys, jewelry and candy, read "Playing With Poison: Lead Poisoning Hazards of Children's Product Recalls, 1990 - 2004" (PDF).
For more information about the recalled jewelry, visit www.toyjewelryrecall.com.
The manufacturer and CPSC urge all parents to search their children's toys for metal jewelry and throw it away.