Getting The Lead Out

(CBS/The Early Show)

Today, in an effort to help people eliminate lead in their homes, we began a new campaign that I feel really strongly about -- The Early Show's "Anchor Moms Against Lead." As a mom of three, I cringe when my kids come home from birthday parties with painted, plastic goodies and toy jewelry. They love that stuff, but who really knew it was potentially dangerous before the last year or so? My girls aren't toddlers anymore, but my 9-year-old still manages to chew on just about everything -- so I am constantly on the lookout.

And then today came a big surprise: Early Show correspondent and mom-to-be Tracy Smith invited a lead inspector to check for lead in her home -- and especially in a room being converted into a nursery. Guess what? In the kitchen, the inspector found lead in a painted pottery serving platter! I have tons of that stuff at home, as I'm sure many of you do, too. Now I'm going home to test it all! You don't need a lead inspector to come to your house. You can just send in a dust sample to the EPA.

Check out

Tracy's story

and click on the links below to learn more about our campaign and for lots of good information to help protect your family:

Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning
EPA Lead Awareness Program

[conithompson]

This report on lead was very interesting. i recently had my son tested for lead but have not gotten results yet. i have discarded all of his made in China items as i am concerned that even though they don''t show up on todays recall lists, they might still have levels of lead even if not excessive.

[nimnaw]

How did we all ever survive the "lead crises" over the last 50 years? With all the scares and requirements around today ( I''m thinking about the extreme child restraint rules for carseats which are excessively expensive, and for kids who are half grown) as well as the excessive lead scare. Also I think the over reaction of a teeny mercury thermometer breaking and a whole school was evacuated. We played with that stuff when I was a kid!!! I just think we should be more concerned over the complete lack of common sense which is prevalent today. If I had had so many things to worry about when I had my kids, I would never have had them. No wounder the population is overstressed!!!! Don''t let the kids eat the plumbing or the paint off the wall! Why is everything such a huge deal anymore? Same with MRSA.....it''s been around forever, but overuse of antibiotics has made us less able to fight off stuff with our own immune systems. Just now it seems the media is focusing on MRSA.I can''t wait ''till they (on a slow news period) decide to scare everyone with VRE. How can anyone possibly survive with all the "stuff" out there? How in the world did I make it for 58 years? General stress and just plain stupidity are killing us faster than anything else!!!