Green Options » lead toys

Lead Poisoning from Paint Still a Kids Safety Issue

Julie Knapp — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:13:28 +0000

Despite US restrictions on lead levels in paint, including a tougher law that debuted this month, lead poisoning due to consumer paint is still an issue. Why? Much of our paint comes from other countries.

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CPSC Fines Mattel Record $2.3M Over Lead-Laden Toys

Cate Nelson — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:24:43 +0000

Between September 2006 and August 2007, Mattel imported almost 900,000 toys that violated rules on lead levels. Their subsidary Fisher-Price imported as many as 1.1 million.

Now the corporation is paying the price. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commision, the $2.3 million fine is the highest levied against a toy company. Thomas Moore, the acting commision chair, said,

This penalty should serve notice to toymakers that CPSC is committed to the safety of children, to reducing their exposure to lead and to the implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

As we all full well remember, the lead recalls caused panic among parents. Mattel’s negligence in manufacturing had the collective consumer culture in the States pointing a big fat finger at China as the cause of problems.

But it’s not only China.

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When Will Obama Restore Science?

Fred Etcheverry — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:27:40 +0000

The previous administration was hostile to science. Political appointees, who believed that the notion of global warming was a “liberal thing,” often trumped scientist writing about global warming and the “greenhouse effect.” Attempts were made to insert Creationism into the curriculum. Funding was banned for embryonic stem cell research. The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) neglected lead laden toys while wagging war on science education.

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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Childhood Lead Poisoning Leads to Life of Violent Crime

Jennifer Lance — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:22:01 +0000

It is common knowledge that lead is bad for our health, and our government is trying to protect our children from lead poisoning through the Consumer Product Safety Information Act, however misguided this legislation is.

New research from the University of Cincinnati concludes that kids exposed to lead are more likely to become violent criminals as adults.

Scientists studied 250 children that were exposed to lead in utero and found the adults who had the highest levels of lead in their blood as children had the highest arrest rates as adults. “These findings provide strong evidence that early lead exposure is a risk factor for criminal behavior, including violent crime.”

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