Are All Toys Lead-free This Year
Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento
This health tip brought to you by Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento.
Last year, you no doubt heard about the biggest recall in the history of children’s toys. China, the leading manufacturer of toys purchased in the United States, used lead-based parts or paint in a portion of its products.
Lead, when ingested, is poisonous to humans and especially harmful to children since their brains and bodies are developing. Commonly found in paint, lead could easily be ingested if children chew or put their mouth on a toy decorated with lead-based paint. Simply touching a toy with lead doesn’t necessarily put your child at risk. However, if the paint chips or the toy breaks, lead-based paint particles could be breathed in and ingested via the lungs.
Even though those who produced and those who retailed the toys have cleaned up their acts, there is still a danger of lead exposure from the toys that will line store shelves this holiday season. While the United States can request production guidelines and examine any toys that are already imported, it cannot know or police exactly how foreign toys are manufactured and which elements are used in their production. China’s toy business is not as regulated and well-documented as those in Europe and the U.S.
Parents should shop in reputable stores and look for labels indicating products are lead-free. U.S.-based retailers were hit hard with last year’s toy recall scandal, so you can bet they’ll be extremely careful to not have a repeat fiasco.
Another tip is to purchase toys that are manufactured domestically. Although it can be more expensive to do so, American-made toys are held to strict and safe guidelines.
Don’t forget about older toys that you’ve had in your home for a while. If you didn’t do it last year, throw out any toy that is suspect. Lead poisoning can occur from a single, intense exposure or it can happen slowly, over time.
If you think your child has been exposed to lead, contact your pediatrician. It is difficult to ascertain if your child has lead poisoning on your own. Symptoms tend to be noticeable only when the poisoning is severe, they include vomiting, fatigue and headache – which are also caused by many other factors. Lead poisoning can be confirmed by medical tests, most commonly by a simple blood test.
If your child is diagnosed with lead poisoning, typical treatment includes following a nutrient-rich diet and, of course, avoiding further exposure to lead. In some cases, chelation medicine can cause metals to leave the body via urine. However, this can be a risky therapy considering the body needs some metals to function properly.
It’s best to prevent lead poisoning altogether by paying attention to potential dangers, like brightly painted toys made in China. The good news is that American toy stores, still hurting from last year’s recall catastrophe, are especially keen on maintaining safe inventory and informing consumers of their diligence and practices. Every national toy retailer has special information about toy safety on their web sites and in their stores. Take advantage of their news, tips and policies to ensure your children’s toys are safe.
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