There is much concern over the many recalls of toys here in the US by the various toy companies. Parents should be careful and be aware of what they buy for their children. Always read the labels and look for those things such as lead when making a purchase. Below, I have placed an article from WebMD that is very good and will explain much more on this issue. We want to keep you informed and up to date. If you have toys at your home, please check them against the recall list and take the proper action to ensure your childs safety!
Nestletosh has the needed XRF equipment to test your child's toys. For information on this please contact us by calling our office or emailing us at NESTLETOSH@AOL.COM.
Toy Recall: What to Do
Nearly 1 Million Fisher-Price Toys Recalled Because of Lead Paint
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Aug. 2, 2007 -- Kids are in no immediate danger from the lead-painted Fisher-Price toys recalled today, health experts say. But it is vitally important to get rid of the toys right away.
The recall affects nearly a million Fisher-Price toys sold for $5 to $40 across the
Prolonged mouthing of the toys, for hours at a time over several days, could give kids a significant lead exposure. Chewing the toys could increase the exposure. Simply touching the toys is not a problem, as lead cannot be absorbed through the skin.
If parents don't get rid of the toys, the problem increases as the paint on the toys ages and comes off more easily. Do not burn the toys, as lead fumes can be inhaled.
"Parents need to know it is not an acute problem if a kid just touches and plays with one of these toys," John Benitez, MD, director of the Lawrence Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Rochester, N.Y., tells WebMD. "But if a child sits and chews on the toy for weeks and months and absorbs the lead from the paint, that becomes a risk."
That is also the opinion of Robert J. Geller, MD, medical director of the
"If the child is playing with the toy, not chewing on it or sucking on it, it is not a danger," Geller tells WebMD. "The risk is the paint being eaten in some way, or creating dust from the toy as from sanding it. Just scraping the toy along the sidewalk is not an issue."
Lead poisoning occurs when toxic levels of lead build up in the body. Because the body is slow to get rid of lead, the poisonous metal can build up in the body with repeated exposures over time.
"For most American children, their lead level is far below the level that causes rapid onset of symptoms," Geller says. "The average American child's lead blood level is a 2 or a 3, and the level of acute effects is around 50."
Geller and Benitez say children who ingest dangerous levels of lead don't usually show symptoms right away. Over time, a child with high lead levels may complain of tiredness and bellyache. Eventually, school performance declines.
Parents worried about whether their child has a high lead level can get a simple, inexpensive blood test from their pediatrician. Test results usually come back within two days, Geller says.
"The reason for concern is there is no good level of lead in the body," Geller says. "Over the long term, persisting lead levels contribute to worse school performance. So we want to eliminate all the sources of lead exposure we can."
Parents should act immediately to return the toys. Fisher-Price is offering a voucher for a safe replacement toy of the same value.
Fisher-Price Recall
A spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says the agency is investigating whether criminal charges will be brought.
"This is a situation where Fisher-Price brought into this country a banned hazardous product," Scott Wolfson tells WebMD. "For 30 years, there has been a ban on lead accessible on children's toys. What we are concerned about is prolonged exposure of young children from mouthing the surface paint of these toys, which could lead to lead poisoning."
"The law is clear," Wolfson says. "Children should not be potentially at risk of lead exposure."
Any parent who suspects that the toys have injured their child should call the CPSC hotline at (800) 638-2772.
Fisher-Price is owned by Mattel Inc. In a news release, Mattel says it is conducting its own investigation into how its own standards were violated.
"We apologize to everyone affected by this recall, especially those who bought the toys in question," Robert A. Eckert, chairman and chief executive officer of Mattel, says in the news release. "We realize that parents trust us with what is most precious to them -- their children. And we also recognize that trust is earned. Our goal is to correct this problem, improve our systems, and maintain the trust of the families that have allowed us to be part of their lives by acting responsibly and quickly to address their concerns."
Mattel has its own recall hotline: (800) 916-4498.