Lead in Children's Toys - What Parents Need to Know

Link to CPSC Recall Information
Related Legislation
Office of Maryland's Attorney General Consumer Resource Website for Recalled Products
Related Resources

Brochure on Lead in Children's Jewelry

A Message from the Executive Director:

Clearly we are concerned by the rash of recent children's toys recalled because of lead paint hazards. To bring an immediate remedy to this situation, the Coalition will release a National Call to Action and Plan to properly inform the public and prevent the sale of leaded toys going to market and putting children at risk for the lifelong and irreversible effects of lead poisoning

At the same time, we must remain mindful that the greatest risk for a child being poisoned comes from housing-related lead hazards such as lead dust created by deteriorating lead-based paint. We urge parents to explore the rest of our website and educate themselves on the home-based lead hazards that threaten the health and safety of our children living in older housing on a daily basis.

Please contact the Coalition, 1-800-370-5323 (LEAD), if we may be of help to your family. Working together we can eliminate childhood lead poisoning and create safe, healthy homes for all children.

Ruth Ann Norton
Executive Director

When in doubt, throw it out!

Over the past decade, millions of pieces of children's jewelry and toys have been recalled by the CPSC due to lead content. Already in 2007, over 30 different recalls have been issued. The jewelry is often described as 'costume' jewelry and sold in dollar and discount stores and vending machines nationwide. Toys recalled range in size and type and are sold in multiple types of stores ranging from smaller specialty shops to large, wholesale chains.

It is important to stress that lead can only pass into a child's body through inhalation or ingestion. However, as children often chew on toys and toys undergo considerable wear-and-tear, it is important that parents take measures to ensure their child's safety.

What to do:

Check your children's toys and identify those with painted surfaces, dull metallic components, white fake pearls, jewelry with plastic cords and especially toys/trinkets with small components that may be swallowed.
If there are painted surfaces, check the toy for the country of origin, often located on the toy's bottom.
If the toy was manufactured in China or India you may wish to use caution.
Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission Website to see if that particular toy has been recalled - www.cpsc.gov or www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Recalls/default.htm
Sign up at CPSC to receive email alerts for future recalls.
If you are still concerned, you may wish to use a lead testing kit like those available at home improvement stores and online. However, these tests are not 100% accurate but may be used as a guide.
Finally, if you believe your child played with lead-tainted toys or jewelry, call your family physician to request a blood-lead test.

It is recommended that any children who chew on their toys or suck on their thumb be prevented from playing with any questionable toys or jewelry.

The effects of lead poisoning are irreversible.

When in doubt, throw it out!

For more information visit:

www.baltimorehealth.org/jewelry - Baltimore City Health Department provides a list of recalls in Baltimore City - this is independent of the CPSC and currently does not guarantee the products are pulled from shelves outside of Baltimore City limits.

www.cpsc.gov - The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) provides listings of all recalls in children's jewelry and toys. Additional product recalls regarding lead content are also available through this site.

http://www.cehca.org/leadpics/index.html - The Center for Environmental Health provides images of products that tested positive for lead content.