Another day, another lead-in-toys recall

[superstition]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071031/ap_on_re_us/halloween_recall

What's it going to take for something to be done, other than a lot of recalls? Are parents supposed to start making their own toys, or buying them from the Amish?

Pelosi has called on the Consumer Safety Commision's director to resign, but what about a law that does something to really prevent kids from getting all these leaded toys?

Fake teeth recalled for too much lead

The $2 packages of "Ugly Teeth" are only the latest in a long line of Chinese-made toys and novelty items recalled because of lead. The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on Halloween, in a late-morning news release.

The agency estimates that since January 2006, retailers have sold about 43,000 eight-piece packages of the party favors. There were no immediate reports of injuries or illness.

Amscan Inc. of Elmsford, N.Y., imported the fake teeth.

Pelosi said Nord has failed to see the gravity of the situation and continues to oppose Democratic efforts to double her agency's dollars and give it more authority. Nord said she has no intention of resigning.

[ollinger]

This post actually belongs in the capital punishment thread, because foolish people's first instinct is to demand the resignations of frequently very capable people to satisfy bloodlust. Capital punishment, if you will. Lead has been in consumer items forever, and the fact that recalls are actually happening now somehow leads Pelosi to believe someone should resign. Perhaps that person resigning should be the person who sets the legislative agenda for making regulations -- Speaker of the House Pelosi.

[kevhen]

But the safety commission is not testing these products, but school teachers have been discovering the lead during experiments and then the safety commission ignored the first school teacher to point this out and eventually his story got out through the media. I think that Nord lady probably should be fired or they need to disband and reorganize so that they actually test some of this stuff being sold to consumers.

[tennis-n-sc]

That Pelosi, she's a real problem solver.

[tbini87]

there are probably TONS of toys out there that don't contain unsafe amounts of lead... and as a parent i would do a little research and find out which toys were safe. and if it is necessary, i guess parents could make toys for their children. nothing wrong with that. as far as the amish, what type of toys do they play with? i know they like roller blades...

[superstition]

there are probably TONS of toys out there that don't contain unsafe amounts of lead...
This is neither here nor there.
and as a parent i would do a little research and find out which toys were safe.
Such as?
and if it is necessary, i guess parents could make toys for their children. nothing wrong with that.
Lol.

[LanEvo]

what if they start recalling tennis racquets for having too much lead?

[Phil]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071031/ap_on_re_us/halloween_recall

What's it going to take for something to be done, other than a lot of recalls? Are parents supposed to start making their own toys, or buying them from the Amish?

Pelosi has called on the Consumer Safety Commision's director to resign, but what about a law that does something to really prevent kids from getting all these leaded toys?
There's been trace amounts of lead in toys for years. Most of us have grown up and become normal adults...for generations, without living in a bullshiate nanny state like the the one that the US is becoming.

The blame for the recent recalls should rest SQUARELY with the US toy companies, who should KNOW BETTER. Nike has its own quality control and design supervisors at all of its Chinese factories. Nike KNOWS BETTER. The fact that Mattel recently made a public apology is an acknowledgement of this.

[max]

Again, I agree with Phil. The toy companies clearly have the ability to utilize Chinese labor in a way that doesn't harm consumers. But the way things are, there's no block on corporation-greed.

I bought some toothpicks the other day, from an American company that used to make them in Maine or Vermont. Now they're from China. VERY SAME PRICE, but noticeable junk quality. . . Chinese manufacturers, since they have new capital equipment, should be able to do better. . . but you get squidnut accountants squeezing the Chinese for that extra bit of profit.

It's a funny thing. The toothpick manufacturer already has about 70% market share: why disgruntle your consumers?

[Diver]

the other side of the coin: (and this may be showing my age)

is lead paint a danger..yes. Is it really or truly harmful in the small doses that are in those toys? probably not. Looking back in history, houses & bedrooms were painted with lead paint, as 1 example, back in the earlier years. Im sure there were problems from that but not some epidemic, like the media always makes things out to be. Your parents didn't die from all the lead used back in their day or when you were a kid growing up (if your older than 25). Every once in a while, people need to look at the big picture. Don't get me wrong, I am all for safety, but don't let the media hype over exaggerate your thoughts and feelings

[superstition]

the other side of the coin: (and this may be showing my age)

is lead paint a danger..yes. Is it really or truly harmful in the small doses that are in those toys? probably not. Looking back in history, houses & bedrooms were painted with lead paint, as 1 example, back in the earlier years. Im sure there were problems from that but not some epidemic, like the media always makes things out to be. Your parents didn't die from all the lead used back in their day or when you were a kid growing up (if your older than 25). Every once in a while, people need to look at the big picture. Don't get me wrong, I am all for safety, but don't let the media hype over exaggerate your thoughts and feelings
Lead paint causes brain damage that is hard to diagnose because it results in things like lower IQ. The biggest danger is usually from dust, when buildings are razed, sandblasted, etc. Paint chips from peeling paint can also be tracked inside and turned into dust. A Cincinnati Enquirer article said a recent study found that 80% of inner city kids in the city have dangerous levels of bloodstream lead.

The younger a person is, the more dangerous lead is because it stunts the ability of the brain to form its network. But, even adults should stay away from it because the brain is always forming new connections.

The danger lead poses in toys depends on the way the toy is used, how old the child is, etc. A lead bearing inside a plastic shell isn't going to be an issue unless the shell breaks. But, lead white paint (which is lead carbonate and is therefore soluble) coating something is a serious risk.

People often don't realize that lead has affected them because its a cumulative poison that results in subtle effects unless a fairly large acute dose happens, particularly if its a particularly toxic form such as the tetraoxide.

Lead has a very long half life in the body. It is absorbed into bones and teeth and leeches into the blood, does more damage, and is mostly reabsorbed again. The reason my grandfather had an unpredictably moody personality is mostly from lead poisoning. He was constantly making lead fishing lures, using them, etc, while eating. Metallic lead is toxic, and paint forms can be worse. For instance, the brightly colored chromates are not only lead-containing, they have hexavalent chromium in them, too.

[Diver]

Lead paint causes brain damage that is hard to diagnose because it results in things like lower IQ. The biggest danger is usually from dust, when buildings are razed, sandblasted, etc. Paint chips from peeling paint can also be tracked inside and turned into dust. A Cincinnati Enquirer article said a recent study found that 80% of inner city kids in the city have dangerous levels of bloodstream lead.

The younger a person is, the more dangerous lead is because it stunts the ability of the brain to form its network. But, even adults should stay away from it because the brain is always forming new connections.

The danger lead poses in toys depends on the way the toy is used, how old the child is, etc. A lead bearing inside a plastic shell isn't going to be an issue unless the shell breaks. But, lead white paint (which is lead carbonate and is therefore soluble) coating something is a serious risk.

People often don't realize that lead has affected them because its a cumulative poison that results in subtle effects unless a fairly large acute dose happens, particularly if its a particularly toxic form such as the tetraoxide.

Lead has a very long half life in the body. It is absorbed into bones and teeth and leeches into the blood, does more damage, and is mostly reabsorbed again. The reason my grandfather had an unpredictably moody personality is mostly from lead poisoning. He was constantly making lead fishing lures, using them, etc, while eating. Metallic lead is toxic, and paint forms can be worse. For instance, the brightly colored chromates are not only lead-containing, they have hexavalent chromium in them, too.

ahhh, that explains my problem....

[max]

I think the State of California owes the lead industry an apology!

I'm just half-kidding. I'm amazed at west coasters' fear of lead, e.g., "what kind of gloves should I wear when I apply lead tape to my racquet."

[stormholloway]

Maybe parents should just tell these idiotic children to stop eating their toys.

[max]

Oh, that's a good one! Thanks for the smile, stormy! :)

[tbini87]

Maybe parents should just tell these idiotic children to stop eating their toys.

haha. i guess that was what i was getting at!

[superstition]

Maybe parents should just tell these idiotic children to stop eating their toys.
Yeah, like those Halloween teeth. How dare those dumb kids put them in their mouths? Blame the parents!

[OrangeOne]

It's a funny thing. The toothpick manufacturer already has about 70% market share: why disgruntle your consumers?

Probably because all of their competitors were manufacturing in China, prices were heading downwards, and 70% market share may actually translate into a loss.