Exposure To Lead Paint From Toys
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One of the most dangerous and commonplace sources of lead is in children's toys. Toys that contain lead paint or other lead materials are especially troublesome because of the natural inclination of children to put items in their mouth. Parents already worry about the safety of the toys that are purchased for their children, and recent recalls of lead-containing toys have only increased their concern.
China has been one of the most visible culprits when it comes to the manufacture and export of toys that are contaminated with lead. In 2007 Fisher Price recalled almost one million toys because of their high lead content, with 83 different types of toys being recalled. These had been manufactured by a Chinese vendor. China's paint standards are actually stricter than paint standards in the United States, with regulations stating that any paint designated for consumer or household product use contain no more than 90 parts of lead per million. In contrast, the United States regulations allow no more than 600 parts per million.
The reason why these standards don't make much of a difference is the level of enforcement by the respective countries. China's enforcement of their regulations is extremely casual. Chinese children are more likely to be using toys that are not inspected than the ones that are being shipped to America, and China does not recall their toys as often as America does.
There are other toy defects, but lead paint has been the most publicized problem. There have been several thousand toy items recalled due to excessive amounts of lead paint. Among these were toy key chains, toy flashlights, costume jewelry and toy jewelry and wooden toys.
Lead is especially dangerous in children because it affects their cognitive abilities. Early symptoms of lead poisoning may include lethargy, irritability, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, attention disorders, insomnia and constipation. Failure to treat lead exposure in the early stages can lead to long-term or irreversible health damage in children.
To make sure that your child's toys are not among the list of recalls, check the product number of the toys that have been recalled. Discard any toys that you are unsure about, just to be on the safer side of things.
If you think that your child was exposed to lead paint from their toys, have your physician check or do a test for lead paint. There are some children who won't show any signs of lead poisoning initially, but blood tests will be able to detect lead exposure and can put your mind at ease.
If you feel or see symptoms of lead paint exposure in your child from their toys, after seeking medical help, go and see a personal injury lawyer who will fight your case for you. A personal injury attorney is knowledgeable enough to know the right actions to take to represent you with your lead exposure case.
Parents also have a responsibility to do their part to keep their children from lead exposure with toys. Parents need to examine their children's toys frequently to make sure there is no chipped paint. Parents should also immediately discard recalled or questionable toys.
