Obama has placed scientists in key positions. He promises to reinstate funding for embryonic stem cell research. Obama’s stimulus package provides for an increase in basic science research and immediate construction of green energy projects. A movement is under way to remove Nord as head of the CPSC.

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Export Licences [sic] of 600 Toy Makers Revoked

China is cracking down on toy makers in an effort to save the industry. “We have thoroughly inspected all 3,000-plus toy makers for export during the rectification work that began last August,” said State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) Deputy Director Pu Changcheng. Changcheng also blamed overseas importers for design flaws and changing standards that created the current recall situation.

Toy Makers Mount Drive to Salvage China’s Safety Reputation

The US Toy Industry Association is attempting to salvage the image of toys made in China, and the toy industry remains committed to making toys in China. They claim there is no realistic alternative to Chinese manufacturing. “Are you going to pay twice as much for a doll because it’s not made in China?” Mr. Shoptaugh, owner of Shoptaugh Games, added. “The thing is you cannot make these products in the United States and have them be competitive on the shelf.”

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The plethora of recalled toys makes it difficult for consumers to know about every unsafe toy identified by the CPSC. During a recent search, KLTV 7 of Jacksonville, Texas found several recalled toys on Ebay. “It’s disturbing that if someone did not know that these items had been recalled that they were being resold,” said Stephanie Carlton, a concerned mother. “It’s a total lack of concern for someone else’s child.” It does make you wonder…what happens to recalled toys once they have been pulled from the shelves?

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In the past two months, there have been millions of toys recalled for dangerous levels of lead content, and other products that contain smaller levels of lead, such as lunchboxes, have not been recalled. In fact, doctors warn that lead levels considered safe by the CPSC still put children at risk. According to WebMD,

Lead poisoning interferes with neural development in children and developing fetuses. High levels of lead in children can cause learning and behavior problems.

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All affected toys were made in China.

Another recall occurred earlier for Mag Stix Magnetic Building Sets, as serious intestinal injury can occur from swallowing these powerful magnets. This was another toy we had in our home. A child living relatively close to our home suffered major injuries from swallowing loose magnets. “Extensive surgery was required to remove the magnets and repair intestinal perforations,” according to the CPSC.

Magnets are very cool for children to experiment with, but safety should always be the concern of toy manufacturers. There are plenty of wonderful ways for children to explore the properties of magnet forces with larger products that do not cause harm.

Hearthsong offers a great magnetic toy, that is appropriate for older children or with close supervision for younger ones. The Deluxe Magnet Set includes “a giant horseshoe magnet powerful enough to lift up to four pounds! Also included are two mighty magnetic wands, 20 magnetic marbles, 50 circular transparent discs, colorful paper clips, metal bolts and washers, 4 colorful magnetic shapes, and 3 magnetic discs.” It is on sale now for $17.99! The magnetic marbles and magnetic discs could be swallowed by a young child (there are other parts that could be swallowed too, but they are not magnetic), thus the toy is recommended for children four years and up. We have this toy in our preschool; however, I only allow children to request to play with it when there is supervision available.

The CPSC lists magnets at the #1 hidden home hazard. They warn, “Since 2005: 1 Death, 86 Injuries; 8 million magnetic toys recalled.

Today’s rare-earth magnets can be very small and powerful making them
popular in toys, building sets, and jewelry. As the number of products
with magnets has increased, so has the number of serious injuries to
children. In several hundred incidents, magnets have fallen out of
various toys and been swallowed by children. Small intact pieces of
building sets that contain magnets have also been swallowed by children.
If two or more magnets, or a magnet and another metal object are
swallowed separately, they can attract to one another through intestinal
walls and get trapped in place. The injury is hard to diagnose. Parents
and physicians may think that the materials will pass through the child
without consequence, but magnets can attract in the body and twist or
pinch the intestines, causing holes, blockages, infection, and death, if
not treated properly and promptly.

Watch carefully for loose magnets and magnetic pieces and keep away from
younger children (less than 6). If you have a recalled product with
magnets, stop using it, call the company today, and ask for the remedy.”

With the majority of products consumers purchase being manufactured overseas, the incidence of “accidental” contamination will continue. As Warren writes, “It is important to do what we can to prevent the import of dangerous toys. But it is at least as important to help our international partners curtail the use of lead and other toxic substances in their own markets. Lax product safety and environmental regulation overseas undoubtedly lowers manufacturing costs there, but it also perpetuates the risk to our children and guarantees harmful exposure to both workers and children in countries that continue using lead as blithely as we once did.” Lead is very dangerous stuff that causes irreversible damage in humans.

No family anywhere in the world should have to suffer from the effects of this known poison, especially in an effort to produce cheap products for the world market. As a world power, we need to do something to extinguish this hazard globally. We have some protection in this country, despite President Bush slashing of the Consumer Product Safety Commission budget by 10%, yet our children are still exposed to lead in their toys. Who knows how many children throughout the world play with lead tainted toys?