On July 10, 2008, F.A.F. Inc. recalled about 30,000 “Faded Glory” Lip Gloss, Locket and Bracelet Sets because the bracelet’s lobster claw clasp contains high lead levels, which could cause lead poisoning.

Three-piece sets are included in the recall, and they contain a rectangle-shaped lip gloss container, a heart-shaped locket necklace and a charm bracelet. The words “Faded Glory,” along with the model number and UPC code, are printed on the product’s hangtag.

The following are item descriptions, model numbers and UPC codes for products included in the recall:

• Frog Set: Model Number 6709-4250, UPC 72783357703,
• Monkey Set: Model Number 6709-4251, UPC 72783357704, and
• Cat Set: Model Number 6709-4252, UPC 72783357705.

Wal-Mart stores nationwide sold the recalled “Faded Glory” Lip Gloss, Locket and Bracelet Sets from May 2008 through June 2008 for about $6.

Consumers are advised to immediately remove the bracelets from children and return the set to any Wal-Mart store for a full refund. For more information, customers may contact F.A.F. Inc. at 800-949-3311, or visit the company’s website.

Source: “Lip Gloss and Jewelry Sets sold exclusively at Wal-Mart recalled by F.A.F. Inc. due to risk of lead exposure,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-329, July 10, 2008.

On June 19, 2008, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recalled about 39,000 “Hip Charm” Key Chains, expanding an April 2008 recall, due to a lead poisoning hazard. Wal-Mart previously recalled 12,000 key chains, also because of high lead levels.

While no injuries have been reported, the Illinois Attorney General reported in April 2008 that the previously recalled key chain was found in the home of a 9-month-hold child who was observed mouthing the key chain, and was later found to have high blood levels of lead.

The recalled Wal-Mart key chains have button, clover, leaf and heart charms that hang from a silver-colored chain. Printed on the product’s packaging are the words “Hip charm” and the following UPC numbers:

• 03156811032,
• 03156811029,
• 03156811019,
• 03156811016,
• 03156811018,
• 03156811028, and
• 03156811030.

Recalled “Hip Charm” Key Chains were sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide from April 2005 through June 2080 for between $.50 and $6. Consumers who own a recalled key chain should not allow children to handle it, and should return it to any Wal-Mart store for a refund.

For more information, customers may contact Wal-Mart at 800-925-6278, or visit the company’s website.

Source: “Wal-Mart recalls additional charm key chains due to risk of lead exposure,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-307, June 19, 2008.

On June 10, 2008, The Children’s Place Retail Stores Inc. recalled about 28,000 Camouflage Pajama Sets because the screen print on the shirts contains excessive lead levels, which could pose a lead poisoning risk.

Included in the recall are long-sleeved and short-sleeved pajama sets that include camouflage pants and a blue shirt with a red screen print that reads, “Athletics 90.” Recalled camouflage pajama sets were sold in boys’ sizes XXS (2/3) to XL (14).

The Children’s Place stores nationwide sold the recalled camouflage pajama sets, as well as childrensplace.com, from December 2006 through January 2008 for between $15 and $17.

Consumers who own a set of recalled camouflage pajamas should immediately take it away from children and return it to any The Children’s Place store for a refund. For more information, customers may also contact The Children’s Place by calling 877-752-2387, by visiting the company’s website, or by emailing the company.

Source: “The Children’s Place Recalls Camouflage Pajama Sets Due to Excessive Lead,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-302, June 10, 2008.

On May 27, 2008, Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. Inc. recalled about 2,300 Rawlings Junior Batting Helmets because surface paint on the helmets was found to contain excessive lead levels, posing a lead poisoning hazard.

Rawlings Junior Batting Helmets with model number CFHLJR, which can be found on the back of the helmet, are included in the recall. The recalled helmets were sold in yellow and orange with black accents.

Sporting goods retailers nationwide sold the recalled Rawlings Junior Batting Helmets from July 2007 through November 2007 for about $40.

Consumers who own a recalled helmet should immediately stop using it and contact either the place of purchase or Rawlings at 800-729-5464 for a free replacement product. For more information, customers may also visit Rawlings’ website.

Source: “Batting Helmets Recalled by Rawlings Sporting Goods Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-575, May 27, 2008.

On May 22, 2008, the Disney Store recalled about 4,100 Pirates of the Caribbean sleeping bags because surface paint on the bag’s zipper pull contains excessive levels of lead, posing a lead poisoning risk.

The recalled Disney sleeping bags have a cartoon pirate design of Davey Jones and Jack Sparrow on the front, and have style number F1652B0003 printed on the inside label’s logo.

Disney stores nationwide sold the recalled Pirates of the Caribbean sleeping bags from April 2007 through October 2007 for about $25.

Consumers should immediately take the sleeping bags away from children and return them to any Disney Store for a full refund. For more information, customers may contact Disney Store at 866-902-2798, or visit the company’s website.

Source: “Disney Store Recalls Pirates of the Caribbean Sleeping Bags Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-278, May 22, 2008.

On May 22, 2008, Antigua Winds Inc. recalled about 6,500 Basic Beat Shaker Guiro Instruments because surface paint on the instruments violates the federal lead paint standard, posing a lead poisoning risk.

The recalled Guiro instrument is ridged and cylinder-shaped, contains beads, and is played by scraping a stick along its surface. It is about 2 inches wide and 5 inches long, with one end painted red and the other blue. The words “Basic Beat 5” Guiro/Shaker,” SHBB5,” and “Recommended for Ages 6+” are printed on the packaging.

West Music retail stores, the West Music catalog, the West Music website, and West Music booths at conventions sold the recalled Basic Beat Shaker Guiro Instruments from November 2001 through March 2008 for between $9 and $11. The Music Together Catalog and website also sold the recalled instruments.

Consumers are advised to immediately take the recalled instrument away from children and contact West Music at 800-397-9378 for a replacement. For more information, customers may also email the company.

Source: “West Music Recalls Shaker Guiro Instruments Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-280, May 22, 2008.

On May 22, 2008, Toy Investments Inc. recalled about 300 Floppy Friends Horse Toys because surface paint on the recalled toys contains excessive lead levels, presenting a lead poisoning risk.

The recalled horse toys have a push up base that, when it is pushed up, makes the horse floppy, but when released, makes the horse stand up straight. Horses are brown and white with a base that is green with orange and red and dark blue flowers.

Hobby stores, gas stations, gift shops, and toy stores nationwide sold the recalled Toy Investments Inc. Floppy Friends Horse Toys from February 2008 through April 2008 for about $4.

Consumers are advised to immediately take the toy away from children and return it to the place of purchase for a refund. For more information, customers may also contact Toy Investments at 800-356-0474, or visit the company’s website.

Source: “Floppy Friends Horse Toys Recalled by Toy Investments Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-285, May 22, 2008.

On May 22, 2008, American Scientific LLC recalled about 87,000 magnets because surface paint on the magnets violate the federal lead paint standard, posing a lead poisoning risk.

Horseshoe, rectangular bar, and U-shaped magnets are included in the recall, and were sold to primary schools for use in science classes. Recalled American Scientific magnets have red and blue paint.

The following are item numbers and descriptions of the magnets included in the recall:

• Bar-shaped Steel: Item Numbers 3101-01, 02, 20
• Horseshoe-shaped Steel: Item Numbers 3102-01, 02, 03, 04
• Pair of Bar-shaped Aluminum/Nickel/Cobalt: Item Numbers 3106-04, 06
• Horseshoe-shaped Aluminum/Nickel/Cobalt: Item Number 3108-01
• Pair of Economy, Bar-shaped Aluminum/Nickel/Cobalt: Item Number 3126-06
• U-shaped: Item Number AR-110
• Bar-shaped: N38 (3126-07)

Item numbers are printed on the product’s packaging. Independent distributors nationwide sold the recalled American Scientific magnets from October 2006 through February 2008 for between $1 and $4.

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the recalled magnets and contact American Scientific at 866-518-1665 for a replacement. For more information, customers may also email the company or visit its website.

Source: “American Scientific Recalls Magnets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-284, May 22, 2008.

On May 22, 2008, Early Childhood Resources LLC recalled about 900 Yellow Sure Grip Paint Brushes because surface paint on the handle of the brushes contains excessive lead levels, posing a lead poisoning risk.

The recalled yellow paint brushes were sold in multi-color packages of four, but only the yellow brushes are included in the recall. The brushes have rounded cylinder bodies with tan bristle tip brushes, and are about 4 inches in height.

Early Childhood Resources distributors, which includes teacher supply stores, nationwide sold the recalled Yellow Sure Grip Paint Brushes from May 2007 through December 2007 for about $4.

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the paint brushes included in the recall and contact Early Childhood Resources at 888-227-9028 for a replacement. Customers may also visit the company’s website.

Source: “Sure Grip Paint Brushes Recalled by Early Childhood Resources Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard”, US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-283, May 22, 2008.

On May 20, 2008, Master Toys & Novelties Inc. recalled about 6,000 Cowboy on a Horse Little Rider Toys because the surface paint on the shoe and pants of the rider toy violates the federal lead paint standard, posing a lead poisoning risk.

Included in the recall is a battery operated cowboy riding a horse toy. Model number 8610B is found on the product packaging, along with UPC code 603678086101. The recalled Master Toys & Novelties toy is 8.5 inches in height by 7.5 inches in length, and the cowboy is wearing blue pants and a red shirt, and the horse is brown.

Dollar and discount stores nationwide sold the recalled Cowboy on a Horse Little Rider Toy from April 2007 through January 2008 for between $5 and $7.

Consumers are advised to immediately take the toy away from children and return it to a place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, customers may contact Master Toys & Novelties Inc. at 800-237-5020, or visit the company’s website.

Source: “Master Toys & Novelties Inc. Recalls Little Rider Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-272, May 20, 2008.

On April 3, 2008, StyleMark Inc. recalled about 144,000 children’s sunglasses because the surface paint on the orange lettering, located on the temples of the sunglasses, contains excessive levels of lead, which could cause lead poisoning.

The children’s sunglasses included in the recall have Main Street Drag characters on the bottom of one lens, with “Main Street Drag” printed in orange at the temples. The frames have dark metallic blue or dark metallic red fronts and gray checkered sides, with style number DI25K7116 printed on the left temple.

Payless, Walgreen’s, Academy Sports, and CVS stores nationwide sold the recalled StyleMark children’s sunglasses from October 2007 through March 2008 for between $6 and $9.

Consumers should immediately take the recalled sunglasses away from children and contact StyleMark at 1-866-928-1913 for a free replacement. For more information, customers may also visit the company’s website.

Source: “Children’s ‘Main Street Drag’ sunglasses recalled by StyleMark due to violation of lead paint standard,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-239, April 3, 2008.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall on March 30, 2008 of some 3,000 toy penguin figures by Plan Toys Inc., of Mountain View, Calif. The head of the recalled penguin toy can detach, exposing connectors with sharp points, presenting a laceration hazard to consumers.

The wooden recalled penguin toy has a black head with rubber fins, a yellow nose, and a white body with red on the base. The toy is round-shaped and creates a soft bell jingle when spun. The toy measures about 3 ¾ inches in height and about 3 inches in diameter. The recalled toy penguin has a UPC number 084543521109 or EAN number 8854740052117 printed on the outside of the packaging of the toy.

The CPSC urges consumers to take the penguin toys away from children and return them to the store where purchased to receive a refund. Consumers also can contact Plan Toys to receive instructions on returning the penguin toys via mail for a refund. Consumers may contact the company at 1-866-517-7526 or visit the firm’s Web site.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Plan Toys Inc. Recalls Toy Penguins Due to Laceration Hazard,” March 25, 2008.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced two product recalls due to potential lead poisoning. A recalled ring toss game by Educational Insights, of Vernon Hills, Illiniois., and the recalled “Backyard and Beyond Metal Water Bottles” by Downeast Concepts Inc., of Yarmouth, Maine both surface paint that contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

More than 130 recalled ring toss games have three plastic blue rings and five 4-inch wooden pegs. Four pegs are purple and one is yellow. The base of the game is made of two red wooden boards that form an “X” when assembled. They were sold nationwide between December 2007 and February 2008 for approximately $30. Consumers may contact Educational Insights toll-free at 1-888-591-9334 or visit the firm’s Web site.

The recalled metal water bottles have model numbers 67402, 67404, 67442, 67444, 67742, 60442, 67744, 67746, 67748 and 60448 printed on the hang tag. The metal water bottles have a black plastic sip-top and were sold in green, pink or blue with assorted animal or insect graphics on the exterior. They were sold nationally between February 2006 and February 2008 for about $8. Consumers should contact Downeast Concepts at 1-800-343-2424 or visit the firm’s Web site.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Downeast Concepts Inc. Recalls Water Bottles Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard,” March 25, 2008; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Educational Insights Recalls Ring Toss Games Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard,” March 26, 2008.

On March 21, 2008, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. recalled about 13,000 of its Camouflage Eggs and Spinning Egg Top Toys because the paint on the toys contains excessive lead levels, which creates a lead poisoning risk.

The recalled white, brown, and green camouflage Easter egg treat containers have Item #1031 printed on the front of the packaging. Sold in a package of eight eggs, “Made in China for Tony Development and Mfg Ltd; TST, Kin, HK” and UPC code number 43078 01054 are printed on the back of the packaging.

The recalled multi-colored spinning egg top toys have Item #1054 printed on the front of the packaging. Sold in packages of a single egg and rip cord, “Made in China for Tony Development and Mfg Ltd; TST, Kin, HK” and UPC code number 43078 01054 are printed on the back of the packaging.

Hobby Lobby Stores nationwide sold the recalled Camouflage Eggs and Spinning Egg Top Toys from January 2008 through March 2008 for between $2 and $2.50.

Consumers who own a recalled egg or egg toy should immediately take them away from children and contact Hobby Lobby at 800-326-7931 to receive a $3 exchange card. For more information, customers may also visit the company’s website.

Source: “Hobby Lobby stores recalls Easter egg containers and Spinning egg tops due to violation of lead paint standard,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-229, March 21, 2008.

On March 18, 2008, Galison/Mudpuppy recalled about 90,000 of its Wire-O Bound Journals and Calendars because the paint on the metal spiral binds contains excessive levels of lead, which could lead to lead poisoning.

The recalled Wire-O Bound Journals are spiral bound, and also include activity books and calendars sold in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors. “Galison” or “Mudpuppy” and the ISBN numbers are printed on the back covers. The following is a list of recalled products with ISBN numbers:

Galison List Journals

• 978-0-7353-1952-3 - Next Great Idea (Black) List Journal
• 978-0-7353-2050-5 - Hiroshige Waves List Journal
• 978-0-7353-2051-2 - Nature’s Cabinet Butterflies List Journal
• 978-0-7353-1934-9 - Chinese Peony List Journal
• 978-0-7353-1949-3 - Toffee Dots List Journal
• 978-0-7353-1951-6 - Toffee Stripes List Journal
• 978-0-7353-1933-2 - William Morris Clover List Journal
• 978-0-7353-1950-9 - Porch Florals List Journal

Galison Prose Journals

• 978-0-7353-1925-7 - Next Great Idea (Black) Prose Journal
• 978-0-7353-2052-9 - Hiroshige Waves Prose Journal
• 978-0-7353-2053-6 - Nature’s Cabinet Butterflies Prose Journal
• 978-0-7353-1926-4 - Chinese Peony Prose Journal
• 978-0-7353-1930-1 - Toffee Dots Prose Journal
• 978-0-7353-1932-5 - Toffee Stripes Prose Journal
• 978-0-7353-1929-5 - William Morris Clover Prose Journal
• 978-0-7353-1931-8 - Porch Florals Prose Journal

Galison Perpetual Calendar

• 978-0-7353-0793-3 - Chocolate Dots Perpetual Calendar

Mudpuppy Specialty Journals

• 978-0-7353-2061-1 - Are We There Yet? Journal
• 978-0-7353-2171-7 - Get Crafty Journal
• 978-0-7353-1506-8 - Happy Camper Journal
• 978-0-7353-0604-2 - Road Trip Journal
• 978-0-7353-0670-7 - Things to Do in the Meantime Journal
• 978-0-7353-0619-6 - Camp Fun Journal
• 978-0-7353-0882-4 - My Travel Journal

Specialty stores and gift stores sold the recalled journals and calendars nationwide and on-line from August 2003 through December 2007 for between $7 and $10.

Consumers who own a recalled Wire-O Bound Journal or Calendar should remove the back cover that has the ISBN barcode and contact Galison at 800-670-7441 for instruction on returning it for a refund. The journal or calendar should then be thrown away.

For more information, customers may visit Galison/Mudpuppy’s website or email the company at safety@galison.com.

Source: “Calison/Mudpuppy recalls wire bound journals and calendars due to violation of lead paint standard,” US Consumer Product Safety Commission Release #08-226, March 18, 2008.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall for Tic Tac Turtle Toss Mats, manufactured by Discount School Supply of Monterey, California. The CPSC also issued a recall for Toy Wrestler Figures, manufactured by A.A. of America Inc., of East Brunswick, New Jersey, after being alerted by the New York State’s Consumer Protection Board of the potential lead poisoning hazard. The play mats and wrestler toys both violate the federal standard for lead paint as they contain excessive amounts of lead.

About 60 of the Turtle Toss Mats, manufactured in China, were recalled by Discount School Supply. The double-sided mats are 50-inches and made of polyester and vinyl. The yellow mats have a turtle design on one side and a number design on the other side, with the numbers painted in black, red, green, and blue. The Discount School Supply logo is also printed on the corners of both the mat.

5,400 of the Toy Wrestler Figures, also manufactured in China, were recalled by A.A. of America, Inc. The figures come in a pack of four with a UPC number of 604111230003 printed on the package. Each figure is 5 ¾ inches high. The toys were sold for about $1 from January 2007 through December 2007 at Dollar stores and other discount stores nationwide. Consumers should immediately stop using the toys and keep them out of children’s reach. A.A. of America can be reached for more information or a full refund at 1-888-822-8697 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. The company can also be reached at www.aatoys.com or can be emailed at recalls@aatoys.com.

The Tic Tac Turtle Toss Mats were sold for about $40 from Discount School Supply website at www.discountschoolsupply.com and through the company’s catalogue. The consumer should immediately stop using the mat and keep it out of children’s reach. Discount School Supply can be contacted for a refund or a credit at 1-800-993-3603 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or by email at tossrecall@discountschoolsupply.com.

Sources: “Discount School Supply Recalls Play Mats Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard.” U.S. Consumer Product Safety Recall Release #08-537 January 16, 2008; “Toy Wrestler Figures Recalled by A.A. of America Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard.” U.S. Consumer Product Safety Recall Release #08-164 January 15, 2008.

The Gift Wrap Company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall January 16, 2008, of hanging photo frames sold by The Gift Wrap Company. The recall comes after excessive levels of lead were found in the surface paint of the photo frames.

The recalled items are described as 4-inch by 6-inch hanging photo frames that were sold in late 2007 at Babies R Us stores nationwide. The ribbon strung frames are white with multi-colored decorations and sold for about $10 in August, September, October, and November 2007.

It is recommended that consumers should immediately cease use of these photo frames due to possible lead poisoning. Anyone who purchased the frames may contact The Gift Wrap Company for a full refund at 1-800-443-4429 or by visiting the company’s Web Site at giftwrapcompany.com.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Photo Frames Recalled by The Gift Wrap Company Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard,” January 16, 2008.

As if shopping wasn’t hard enough, parents will need to take even more care this year to make sure purchased toys are safe in light of numerous reports and recalls in 2007 related to unsafe levels of lead, mercury and arsenic found in children’s toys. An environmental group in Michigan announced research in December 2007 that toxic chemicals were found in a surprising number of the more than 1,200 toys they examined. In some cases, the level of lead exceeded federal safety guidelines by as much as 10 percent.

“We detected lead in 35 percent of the 1,200 products. That was higher than we would have predicted,” Mike Shriberg, policy director for the Ecology Center said. “Of those with lead, 17 percent exceeded the federal recall standard for lead. That was surprisingly high. And very few of these products have actually been recalled.”

Additional tests found arsenic in 17 products and mercury in five others. A complete list of the toys can be found at HealthyToys.org.

Some parents are voicing their concerns over reportedly dangerous toys.

“Every day this is a worry for me,” said 37-year-old mother Jennifer Koss. “It’s hard to find a toy out there that doesn’t give you pause. You feel like you are on your own. I will definitely be looking at the list.”

And Shriberg said smart-minded consumerism is not the simple answer.

“Parents can’t shop their way out of this problem. You can clean out the toy box but the next toy could be just as harmful,” Shriberg said. “The only answer is a regulatory answer.”

Source: Jennifer Chambers, The Detroit News, “Testing toys for toxins,” December 5, 2007.

On November 19, 2007, California Attorney General Jerry Brown filed a lawsuit against 20 companies, alleging they sold toys with unlawful amounts of lead and failed to warn the public of the health dangers.

The lawsuit also alleges the companies violated the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 because they did not notify customers of toys in the marketplace that contained high concentrations of lead.

California is the first state to call for the labeling of toys made with unsafe levels of lead, hoping to embarrass businesses into removing toxic chemicals from their products. If the lawsuit is successful, the companies may be forced to pay penalties of up to $2,500 per day for each violation.

More than 6 million toys have been recalled in 2007 because of lead poisoning. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been criticized by congressional committees and consumer groups for failing to protect children from lead and other chemicals in toys, jewelry, lunchboxes, and other products.

Source: Jane Kay, “California sues 20 companies for toys with unlawful amounts of lead,” San Francisco Chronicle, November 20, 2007.

Scientists have known for a long time that lead, like calcium, is stored in our bones. But only recently did they discover that long-stored lead leaches into the blood whenever the bones release calcium – typically during pregnancy, breast-feeding, menopause, and, for both men and women, old age.

After being released from the bones into the blood, lead’s poisonous effects can spread throughout the body, and may contribute to ailments associated with aging, like hypertension, kidney disease, and possibly dementia.

Developing babies may be exposed to lead seeping into the womb and through breast milk. Mothers with high bone and blood levels tend to have babies who are smaller, gain less weight in the first month of life, and have lower test scores for mental development at age two. This means lead poisoning could create risks for Americans for decades to come.

While not all Americans are at risk, doctors worry most about those exposed to lead at work or who grew up in countries that still use leaded gas. Women who were children during the leaded-gas phase-out from 1973 to 1995 have the lowest blood levels of any demographic group. And the number of children ages 1 to 5 with elevated lead in their blood has declined from 88 percent in the 1970s to 1.6 percent in 2005.

Scientists also found that postmenopausal women have significantly higher levels of blood lead than younger women, and these levels may rise as much as 25 percent in the five years after menopause. Men are affected, as well. They also lose bone mass as they age, and older men with high lead levels are more likely to develop kidney problems.

As people reach midlife and old age, [lead poisoning](http://www.productsthathurt.com/companies/fisher-price/elmos-guitar/lead-poisoning.php may contribute to deterioration in the ability to think, learn, and remember. Adults with high lead exposure lost more cognitive skills than unexposed peers, and men with higher bone lead levels had lower scores in manual dexterity, decision-making, and verbal skills.

This can lead patients with high bone lead accumulations to suffer from “accelerated aging,” in which people function as if one to five years older than people with low lead exposure.

Scientists are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on recommendations for doctors to help identify and treat mothers and babies at greatest risk. The recommendations are expected to be release within one year.

Source: Liz Szabo, “Where does lead go? Into bones,” USA Today, October 28, 2007.

On October 30, 2007, the nonprofit publisher, Consumer Reports, published reports of an investigation into children’s products such as school supplies, backpacks, and kids’ jewelry.

Consumer Reports’ four-month investigation found many of the lead-tainted children’s products and toys were not a part of the federal recall list, and raised concerns about the wider lead contamination of products marketed to and for children.

Lab tests detected “widely varying levels” of lead contamination in dishware, jewelry, glue stick caps, vinyl backpacks, children’s ceramic tea sets, and other toys and items not subject to a recall.

Exposure to high levels of lead over time can damage a child’s central nervous system. Such damage might impact the child’s development and can lead to learning disabilities, behavioral problems, or mental retardation.

The investigation found that Fisher-Price’s blood pressure cuff and Elmer’s glue stick featuring characters such as “Sponge Bob Square Pants” and “Dora the Explorer” contained high levels of lead. Neither company responded to requests for comments on the Consumer Reports’ findings, set to be sold on newsstands next week. Consumer Reports advises consumers not to use either lead contaminated product.

“This is more an issue that lead has been allowed to creep into consumer products,” said Donald L. Mays, senior director of product-safety planning at Consumers Union, Consumer Reports’ publisher. “We’re not policing the market closely enough to prevent these things from coming into contact with consumers and particularly children.”

Consumer Reports advocates for legislation to limit the amount of lead in all children’s toys and not simply to the paint that is applied.

Source: David Schepp, “Consumer Reports finds lead in unrecalled toys,” The Journal News, October 30, 2007.