Lead poisoning is considered by many to be one of the most important chronic environmental illnesses affecting children today. Yet despite the existence of federal lead standards, lead tainted toys are still being sold in American stores, as evidence by two toy recalls announced today.
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. Once poisoned by lead, no organ system is immune.
Now, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with the firms involved, is recalling two children’s toys due to violation of the federal lead paint standard. In the first case, about 144 Toy Xylophones are being recalled. Of note, the Toy Xylophones were manufactured in China and imported through the King Import Warehouse of Dallas, Texas. It seems that surface paint on the Toy Xylophones contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. The Toy Xylophones involved measure about 12 inches long by five inches wide and contain item number KW20119 on the toy’s packaging. The Toy Xylophones have a lavender frame and mallet, and four bars which are orange, yellow, green, and white.
The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately take these recalled toys away from children and return them to Dollar Zone “giant,” Sam 99 Cent Store, and 99 Cents Mart in Texas for a replacement toy. King Import Warehouse can be called collect at (972) 241-5464 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
The second recall involves about 2,100 OKK Trading Mini-Televisor Toy TVs, also due to violation of the federal lead paint standard. The Mini-Televisor Toy TVs were manufactured in Hong Kong and imported by OKK Trading of Los Angeles, California. In this case, the surface coating on the Mini-Televisor Toy TVs could contain excessive levels of lead.
The Mini-Televisor Toy TVs are a plastic toy with a microphone that is powered by two AA batteries. There is a sticker label on the front panel and carrying handle of the toy that says “TV Painting Board.” The tainted toys were sold at OKK Trading’s Web site at www.okktoys.com from July 2008 through September 2008 and retailed for about $1. OKK Trading can be reached toll-free at (877) 655-8697 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or at the firm’s Website at www.okktoys.com.
A major challenge with lead poisoning is the difficulty in recognizing its subtle symptoms and that there are no definitive indicators that point to contamination. When faced with peculiar symptoms that do not match any one particular disease, lead poisoning should be considered. Children with lead poisoning may experience irritability, sleeplessness or excess lethargy, poor appetite, headaches, abdominal pain with or without vomiting—and generally without diarrhea—constipation, and changes in activity level. A child with lead toxicity might be iron deficient and pale because of anemia and can be either hyperactive or lethargic. There may also be dental indicators such as lead lines on gingival tissue.
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