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| Lead In Toys and Jewelry |
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1. How can I limit my child’s exposure to lead in toys or jewelry? |
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2. How can my child be exposed? |
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3. How do I obtain more information about recalls? |
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4. How do I test a toy or jewelry for lead? |
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5. How is lead used in manufacturing? |
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6. What should be done with toys that have been recalled? |
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7. What should I do if I believe my child has put toys or jewelry into his/her mouth? |
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8. Which toys or jewelry has been recalled? |
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| Lead In Toys and Jewelry |
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| How can I limit my child’s exposure to lead in toys or jewelry? | Back to Top |
- Identify whether you have a product in your home that has been recalled. Recall notices are available through the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website site at www.cpsc.gov
- Make sure the child does not have access to jewelry or other items that my contain lead.
- Avoid young children to put small toys or jewelry in their mouths.
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Children may be exposed to lead from consumer products through normal hand-to-mouth activity and by handling lead-containing objects. As part of normal development, young children often place their toys, jewelry, fingers, and other objects in their mouth, which puts them in contact with the lead paint or dust.
How children can get lead poisoning:
- Eating items with lead in them
- Putting unwashed hands and toys in their mouths
- Breathing dust laced with lead
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| How do I obtain more information about recalls? | Back to Top |
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues recalls of toys or jewelry that could potentially expose children to lead. Photos, descriptions and more information on the recall can be obtained from the CPSC website at http://www.cpsc.gov/ or 1-800-638-2772. |
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Home lead test kits are available. However these kits do not include how much lead is present and their reliability at detecting low levels of lead has not been determined. The only accurate way to test a toy or jewelry for lead is by a certified laboratory. |
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Paint: Lead may be found in the paint on toys. Lead paint was banned for use in house paint, on products marketed on children, dishes or cookware in the United States in 1978. However, it is still widely used in other countries and therefore the reason it can be found in imported toys. It may also be found on older toys made in the United States before the ban in 1978.
Plastic: Lead may also be used in plastic toys to stabilize the plastic molecules from heat. It makes the plastic more flexible and softens the plastic so that it can go back to its original shape. The use of lead in plastics has not been banned. When the plastic is exposed to substances such as sunlight, air and detergents the chemical bond between the lead and plastics breaks down and forms a dust. |
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| What should be done with toys that have been recalled? | Back to Top |
If you do have a recalled toy in your home:
- Take it out of your children’s hands immediately and put them in a place where children cannot find them.
- Follow them the manufacturer’s instructions for the recall; do not just throw out the product and;
- If the recalled toy contains lead, wipe down other toys that were near the recalled toy to catch lead dus
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| What should I do if I believe my child has put toys or jewelry into his/her mouth? | Back to Top |
See your health care provider. He or she can perform a blood test to see whether your child has been exposed to lead and, if so, recommend treatment. Most children with elevated blood lead levels do not have any symptoms. A blood lead test is the only way you can tell if your child has an elevated lead level. As blood lead levels increase, lead has an increased effect on children’s learning and behavior. |
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On September 26, 2007, Toby N.Y.C recalled approximately 23, 500 of children’s metal jewelry due to risk of lead exposure. On September 26, 2007, Target recalled approximately 350,000 of Children’s toy gardening tools and chairs due to violation of lead paint standard. In addition, Mattel recalled about 675,000 of Various Barbie® Accessory Toys on September 4, 2007; and 253,000 of “Sarge” die cast toy cars on August 14, 2007; On August 2, 2007, Fisher-Price recalled approximately 967,000 toys, including Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and other children's toys.
For a complete list of lead-related toy or jewelry recalls, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website at http://www.cpsc.gov/.
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