The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recalled two children’s products, both for lead-related violations. In cooperation with Riverside Publishing Company of Rolling Meadows, Illinois, the CPSC announced a voluntary recall of 5,300 Memory Testing Cards which were sold as part of Riverside’s educational testing kits and were made in China. While no injuries have been reported, the surface paint on the cards contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.
This recall involves the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test—Symbolic Memory Cards. The memory testing cards are part of a kit used to test children’s physical and mental abilities, are white with green figures, measure 1 ½” x 1 ½”, and were sold as part of a kit (model number 922782), or in packages of 10 cards (model number 922775). The model numbers are located on the packaging. The kits were sold by Riverside Publishing to testing facilities and administrators nationwide from January 2003 through November 2007 and retailed for about $550.
Purchasers should immediately stop using the recalled memory cards and return them to Riverside Publishing for free replacement cards. The firm is contacting purchasers directly. For additional information, contact Riverside Publishing at (800) 323-9540 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.riverpub.com
Also, the CPSC in cooperation with Pecoware Company, Inc of Chino, California announced a voluntary recall of 2,900 Children’s Metal Necklaces made in China. The children’s necklaces contain high levels of lead and, while no injuries have been reported, lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause serious adverse health effects.
The recalled necklaces include a cat with silver and pink rhinestones, a heart and lock with pink rhinestones, a silver-colored heart with a rhinestone crown, and a silver-colored lock and key; all the charms hang from silver-colored chains. The Children’s Metal Necklaces were sold at department and specialty stores nationwide from January 2006 through July 2007 (cat necklace), and from July 2007 through November 2007 (heart, heart and key, and lock and key necklaces) and retailed for about $13.
Consumers should immediately take the recalled necklaces away from children and contact Pecoware for instructions on returning the necklaces for a full refund. For additional information, contact Pecoware at (800) 456-7326 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.pecoware.com.
Over six million toys were recalled last year due to lead—the highest number ever for product defects—and the Chinese government signed agreements to help prevent lead-painted toys from reaching the U.S. Toys are undergoing more inspection and re-testing which may lead to more CPSC recalls. Meanwhile, exposure to lead in children and unborn children can cause brain and nervous system damage, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches, mental and physical retardation, and behavioral and other health problems. Lead is also known to cause cancer and reproductive harm and, in adults, lead can damage the nervous system.
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