Toys Not Recalled Might Still Be Dangerous

Positive Tests For Lead Found In 35 Percent Of More Than 1,200 Products For Children

(CBS/AP)  Tests on more than 1,200 children's products, most of them still on store shelves, found that 35 percent contain lead - many with levels far above the federal recall standard used for lead paint.

A Hannah Montana card game case, a Go Diego Go! backpack and Circo brand shoes were among the items with excessive lead levels in the tests performed by a coalition of environmental health groups across the country.

Only 20 percent of the toys and other products had no trace of lead or harmful chemicals, according to the results being released Wednesday by the Michigan-based Ecology Center along with the national Center for Health, Environment and Justice and groups in eight other states.

Of the 1,268 items tested, 23 were among millions of toys recalled this year.

Mattel Inc. recalled more than 21 million Chinese-made toys on fears they were tainted with lead paint and tiny magnets that children could accidentally swallow. Mattel's own tests on the toys found that they had lead levels up to 200 times the accepted limit.

The spate of recalls has charities across the country are struggling to play Santa. Charities from Goodwill to the Salvation Army are either refusing toy donations or devoting more time to inspections before toys are distributed.

Salvation Army national spokeswoman Melissa Temme said about 150 Salvation Army Thrift Stores in the South have stopped accepting toy donations because of the recalls.

The Consumer Action Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Toys, which is available to the public at http://www.healthytoys.org, shows how the commonly purchased children's products rank in terms of containing lead, cadmium, arsenic and other harmful chemicals. It comes in time for holiday shopping - and amid the slew of recalls.

"This is not about alarming parents," said Tracey Easthope, director of the Ecology Center's Environmental Health Project. "We're just trying to give people information because they haven't had very much except these recall lists."

Easthope said 17 percent of the children's products tested had levels of lead above the 600 parts per million federal standard that would trigger a recall of lead paint. Jewelry products were the most likely to contain the high levels of lead, the center said, with 33.5 percent containing levels above 600 ppm. Among the toys that tested above that limit was a Hannah Montana Pop Star Card Game, whose case tested at 3,056 ppm.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a level of 40 ppm of lead as the maximum that should be allowed in children's products. Lead poisoning can cause irreversible learning disabilities and behavioral problems and, at very high levels, seizures, coma, and even death.

A spokeswoman for New York-based Cardinal Industries Inc., which sells the Hannah Montana game, said Tuesday that Cardinal was unaware of the environmental groups' tests or procedures but the product has passed internal tests.

"We test every (product) before it ships numerous times," Bonnie Canner said. "We have not tested this product high for lead."

Easthope said the product is manufactured in China. Canner declined further comment until she had more information.

The center and its testing partners found The First Years brand First Keys, Fisher-Price's Rock-a-Stack and B.R. Bruin's Stacking Cups were among the 20 percent that contained none of the nine chemicals.

"There's a lot of doom and gloom about lead in the products - people only hear about the recalls," said Jeff Gearhart, the Ecology Center's campaign director. "Companies can make clean products. Our sampling shows that there's no reason to put lead in a product."

Gearhart and Easthope said the products, while not necessarily representative of everything on the market, were considered among those commonly bought and used. Testers purchased most at major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us.

The testing began in 2006 but most of the items were checked in the past six months, Gearhart said.

Calls to a Mattel spokeswoman were not immediately returned Tuesday. A Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spokeswoman declined to comment because the company had not seen the report.

Toys "R" Us Inc. spokeswoman Kathleen Waugh also declined to comment because she needed to fully review the report's findings, referring questions to the Toy Industry Association.

Joan Lawrence, the association's vice president of standards and safety, said the group and its members support limiting accessible lead in children's products. But she said the industry and standard-setting bodies are struggling with how to measure exposure, accessibility and what limits to set.

She said she hasn't seen all of the Ecology Center's findings but called them misleading because the testers did not appear to follow recognized test procedures for lead and other substances. The two most common ways are to use solutions to simulate saliva and digestion, and another to attempt to dissolve the surface coating.

The center and its testing partners performed what they describe as a "screening" of chemicals using a handheld X-ray fluorescence device that detects surface chemical elements.

"The mere presence of any substance alone is only half of the answer - you need to know if it's accessible to the child," Lawrence said. "We can't tell that from what I know of the tests that have been done by this group."

Easthope said her group's tests aren't meant to replace those tests, and that's noted on the Web site. She said it's important for people to know what's in these products since nobody else is providing this data.

"We're not saying that ... all of it will come out into a child," she said. "We're saying it's a concern that so much of these products have these chemicals of concern in them.

"We shouldn't have lead in kids' products. We can make products without lead in them."

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson said he also hasn't seen the Ecology Center's tests but said the federal agency would seek to verify its findings and initiate recalls if warranted.

He said the commission has been meeting with ASTM International, which spearheads voluntary safety standards for toys, to discuss crafting standards specific to lead in plastics. He said there also is movement on Capitol Hill to revise laws on lead in children's products.

Wolfson said the commission launched 40 toy recalls in fiscal year 2006, three involving lead-paint violations. In 2007, there were 61 recalls, 19 involving lead-paint violations.

"What we would like to consumers to know is more recalls are on the way," he said.

[erasmus6]

"My question is why are we protecting stupid people. There are way too many of them out there. News flash. Don''''t let your children eat their toys or swallow batteries."

Yes, there are too many out there. WE ARE ALL STUPID for allowing these companies to poison our children. The problem is we are all too LAZY to do anything about it. The fact that we all sit back and allow them to poison our world is PATHETIC.

[denn034]

A sad day indeed when toys jeopardize kids. Blame China.

[famulla-2009]

Busier a man happier he is. He has no time to build the cobwebs in the brain and create all sorts of confusions when there is no confusion. Let me tell you one small tale George woke up one morning. Today he said to himself, %u201CLet me relax today, No club." he was lying in his bed; Wife peeped in and saw he was still pondering. %u201CWhat George, you are not going to the club%u201D. %u201CNo, Sue, today I just want to rest%u201D. %u201CAre you feeling okay%u201D? Yep I am great%u201D You do not lo great%u201D No I am fine%u201D. You look sick Let me bring you a cup of tea%u201D," No Sue. I am fine. %u201COff she goes After two minutes son Patel comes,%u201CDad. Mom says you are not well. %u201CSon .I am fine " %u201CYou don%u2019t look%u201D " I am fine just leave me alone. I am fine." %u201COkay dad but I see you are annoyed very fast today%u201D. %u201CLook I said I am fine. Now buzz off%u201D After two minutes came the daughter Lisa. %u201CDad what are you shouting about. I was on the phone and I heard you. Are you annoyed because you are not well%u201D %u201CLisa, my darling. Apple of my eyes. Ice cream of my heart. I am fine. I was just telling Patel I am fine but he just would not listen." Lisa," So dad how are you now%u201D I am fine%u201D. Dad if you are fine why are you not going to club?" By this time George was out of bed in his gear of the golf and ready to go out away from the home. That is too much in the home at times.

[rohink-2009]

Good God people, everyone needs to sit around in terror. We better stop breathing. You don''t know what toxins you might inhale. I don''t know how I survived growing up in the 60''s. Government passing all these laws and banning everything. I objected to the seatbelt laws because I felt the Federal Government had no business regulating that. I choose to wear my seatbelt. I had a friend that said "yes Robin, but those laws are there to protect the stupid people". My question is why are we protecting stupid people. There are way too many of them out there. News flash. Don''t let your children eat their toys or swallow batteries.

[extremophil]

And if you swallow a slinky it will put a spring in your step (or bounce you off the toilet).

[erasmus6]

I was talking to someone from Agriculture Canada one day and I was told that people should NEVER sit in their homes without ALWAYS having a window open. The person told me that there is toxic fumes coming from everything in your home, plastics, vinyl, paint,wood paneling, carpets, pressed wood, etc. There probably isn''t anything in your home that isn''t toxic. Even if you buy a "non-toxic" paint, there is still some toxic in it. The only flooring that you can get that isn''t toxic is cork, bamboo ?, and wool carpeting and even then you still have to be careful about what you buy. I talked to a person at a carpet store awhile ago and they said that they are finding that all the stuff that comes from China is REALLY bad for toxic stuff in it. Until recently no one was paying attention.

Is it any wonder that there are so many people dying of cancer now??

[erasmus6]

"Toys Not Recalled Might Still Be Dangerous"

REALLY???? WOW, I would never have known that!!!


People need to WAKE UP! You can bet that most toys if not all toys made in China have lead in them. You can bet that almost EVERYTHING that comes from China has lead in it. AND if you think that China is the only one that has lead in stuff, think again.

"The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a level of 40 ppm of lead as the maximum that should be allowed in children''s products."

The U.S. allows a certain amount of lead in things. What does that tell you? It tells me that there is lead in things that are made in the U.S. also. Sure they only allow a certain amount but if there is that certain amount in one toy and then there is a certain amount in another toy then couldn''t the accumulation of all the toys having that "certain amount" be harmful? As far as I am concerned any amount of lead is harmful.

Now I have told this before but I will tell it again.
I live in Canada where lead is banned. My daughter worked for a company that made ceramics and her boss used to travel to the U.S. to buy her glazes. WHY? Because the glazes in the U.S. had brighter colors. WHY? Because they all contained LEAD.

People need not only worry about lead, there are a million other chemicals that are toxic, that go into the making of things. Not only are they harmful if swollowed but they also give off a toxic gas.

[westxdust]

That lady in the article must not have children. My children don''t eat their toys and yet I still don''t want lead or any other chemicals in the toys that I buy. Plus I would rather buy more expensive toys made in the US.

[badfish911]

i got really bad dandruff

[augustus131]

Let me get this straight.. "a Hannah Montana Pop Star Card Game, whose case tested at 3,056 ppm. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a level of 40 ppm of lead as the maximum that should be allowed in children''s products."

Haven''t we in this country known about lead dangers and have gotten rid of, or banned, most lead in products (Paint-gas, etc) going back 30 yrs ago?!?!?!! How/why is this now cropping up again?! I don''t care where the toys come from, the companies that sell these to the american consumer, are "AMERICAN" companies (Mattel, Hasbro, F-P). So, regardless of where these toys are made, how can they be selling-distributing these things through legitimate outlets with these levels of lead and not be getting the pants sued off them!!?

Dutch-Boy, Glidden, Sears, etc, could/can not be selling interior paint in this country with high lead levels (regardless of where thte paint was made), so how are these toy companies getting away with this!!
I mean Ford could not build a car in China, without seat belts, and then sell it here in the U.S. So what is up with this toy debacle?! I just don''t get it.

Second question; what are the benefits of lead in paint anyway? It must have a/some benefit that adds to the properties of the paint (cheaper, better/richer colors, longevity/wearability)?? I mean if it''s is so dangerous to childern why would anybody use it at all on childerns products.

[watcher269-2009]

The Republicans New Kids HealthCare system - "Let Them Kids Eat Lead".

Taken from Bushit''s Cowboy Motto for Iraq - Let them Eat Lead.

Way to go RePublicans! This was on your watch - it is your problem.

Now, What about all the food issues?

[jsklinemn]

If you are going to have a congress that blatently decrees that enterprise should outsource it''s product to other countries to boost profits and then turns around on the jobs that do have to stay here, and turn those jobs into "perma-temp" jobs,... Well people; you get exactly what you pay for.
I have begun the personal campaign of not knowingly purchase anything made in China unless thats the only place it can come from. My wallet will soon have an impact on Mattel, and all these other companies that decided that cheap slave labor in China and other parts was far better than keeping the locals who eventually buy your product employed so that they can.

This is kinda like the old addage of "Drop a brown log in the same area where you eat and sleep". This is more like what they''ve done to the local economy.

[icebreaker24]

WAKE UP OUT THERE! IT''S NOT JUST TOYS! HOW ABOUT FOOD PRODUCTS, CLOTHING, AMMUNITION OUR TROOPS AND POLICE REQUIRE. THERE ARE SO MANY PRODUCTS YOU CAN''T NAME THEM ALL. WHEN OUR COMPANIES MOVED OVERSEAS ONLY THEIR EMPLOYEES CRIED THE ALARM. NO ONE LISTENED!

[wheezel3]

Students achieve less and less. If you dowbt that most of our young people are less intelligent than their predecessors, talk to law officers about it or try to get them to do a simple task. Long-term teachers can certainly vouch for this. Mexican students are just the worst, overall. And why all this downward spiral? The lead in their bodies. In Mexico, it''s often from food (many times the "tamarino" and flavored salts are from either lead-filled Mexican sources or Chinese sources). In the U.S., both the ethnic foods and the toys are full of it. Voila, a whole nation of stupid people. And violence results from lead poisoning, too -- check the research into the lead levels in Philly youth vs the rest of the nation and their crime there. But it will be an uphill battle to get the poor to stop poisoning themselves.

[djberson]

Right on Omega39!!

We have to blame the greedy junk-mongers who profit on both ends... China, and the consumer. We must ALSO blame ourselves for letting it get to this.... failing to support OURSELVES by going out of our way to buy American made products. There is a cause and effect here folks!!

[omega39-2009]

All those brands that I grew up with Mattel, Fischer Price, Hasbro, had at one time a name that stood for quality and trust among its customers. The CEOs and the live for today investment profiteers have sacrificed all of that for a quick buck. These brands will never regain the complete public trust they once held.

[hwy71so]

Why are we importing toys anyway? That''s stupid.

[hwy71so]

Life is dangerous! If you think a toy is unsafe for your kids, don''t let them play with them. Stop blaming the manufacturer!

Use some common sense people.

[p4thf1nd3r]

The reason toys are so cheap from China is they have no regulations or standards. It is very apparent they do not require testing of their products to ensure they are safe. Additionally, they are not required to maintain any environmental regulations. The foreign countries that are sending in all the cheap toys, clothes and such can do it because they are allowed to cut all the corners they want and it will not get them put in jail. Latsly, we need to mention the multi-billion dollar trade deficit we have with China.

Our government needs to wake up and start taking care of the country they live in and represent instead of trying to take care of the world to gain political favor.

[famulla-2009]

Toys Not Recalled Might Still Be Dangerous
Tests On Over 1,200 Products For Children Found Lead In 35 Percent

The toys used like the guns in the USA are as dangerous as the Chinese toys. At times I feel these are propagandas to the World Trade and this is pure deceit to look down n jus one country China. The reason is as follows. The China economy is on the boom
The toys that are manufactures in USA, Canada, and UK are too expensive. And not within in the wallets of the savers at this time of this Christmas that see all watching their wallets.

I thank you
Firozali A Mulla MBA PhD
P.O.Box 6044
Dar-Es-Salaam
Tanzania
East Africa