News tagged with 'Lead'

This third annual consumer guide from The Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan finds one out of three children's toys still has measurable levels of heavy metals, though lead levels are declining. Use Their HealthyStuff.org to shop and a Lead Test Kit for the home may not be a bad idea either.

Lead exposure in children appears to permanently damage the brain this study finds, echoing previous findings that associate a lower IQ and criminal behavior and developmental exposure to lead.

The FDA does no testing of cosmetics or face paints  so a consumer group, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, has taken over that job, testing 10 products from a Halloween store. The results are scary, but consumers aren't left in the dark if they are informed.

Target Corp will pay $600,000 for allowing lead-containing toys on its shelves. The responsibility for assuring no foreign made toys are continuing to be imported with excessive lead levels, lies with the retailer.

Mattel and its Fisher-Price unit agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit related to a 2007 recall of millions of toys made in China.

After internal scientists at the EPA said they had a concern about dust and debris coming from tire mulch in playgrounds, the EPA says it is not addressing the situation.

Faux leather handbags found in many different retailers were found to contain high amounts of lead. The Center for Environmental Health purchased the bags in San Francisco Bay Area retaillers and found that brightly colored bags were the worse offenders, indicating the lead could be in the dye or the faux material.

Lead levels in the blood of youngsters has reached a 20 year low, according to a CDC report.  The 84 percent drop in lead levels in youngsters is reminiscent of levels not seen since the 1970s when lead was removed from gasoline and paint. 

The children's garment industry is dominated by small companies with fewer than 20 employees, many stay-at-home moms. When new regulations go into effect next month intended to keep the lead out of children's products and clothing - it is disproportionately those small businesses that will be impacted, says author and industry leader, Kathleen Fasanella.

It is a mystery that will take 21 years to solve - how do solents, plastics, chemicals in our environment adversely affect children's health and disease. The NIH and CDC will examine more than 100,000 participants at 105 diverse sites around the country in this ambitious National Children's Health Study. 

New consumer laws have been passed in the aftermath of a wave of toxic toy recalls last year, but, experts urge parents not to let their guard down when it comes to picking and choosing this year’s gifts.

Consumers can test for lead in children's toys, fashion jewelry and all products with these lead-test kits that are available for home use. Consumer Report rates them, while the CPSC says they are not reliable.

Following several toy recalls last year, parents are likely to feel confused as they shop this holiday season. But, we assure you, there are safe toys out there and we have suggestions and tips to help make finding them easier.

The Ecology Center has released the 2nd annual consumer guide to toxic chemicals in toys at HealthyToys.org. One-third of the toys tested had medium or high levels of chemical concern this year, including arsenic, lead, mercury and other harmful chemicals.

HealthyToys consumer guide to toxic chemicals tested 1,500 toys and found one third of them contained medium to high levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead and other harmful chemicals.