Contact: Megan Rowe
(434) 924-5679
meganrowe@virginia.edu
Metal Jewelry, Toys, Linked to Lead Poisoning
Charlottesville, Va., October 25, 2006 - Although lead-based paint remains the most common source of lead exposure for children in the United States, there have been increasing reports recently of metallic toys and trinkets containing lead. Though illegal to import, lead-contaminated items intended for use by children are manufactured in countries with limited government regulation of lead in consumer products. This has lead to the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalling over 100 million pieces of imported metallic toy items in the past few years.
Experts from the Blue Ridge Poison Center at the University of Virginia Health System urge parents and caregivers to be aware that children can develop lead poisoning when they ingest metallic lead objects. Recent items that have been found to have higher than allowable lead content include toy figurines, zipper pulls, jewelry, teething items, and charms. Items manufactured in China are particularly suspect. In February 2006, a 4-year old child died in Minnesota after swallowing an item that was later determined to be 99 percent lead. The item was a heart-shaped charm on a bracelet that came as a promotional gift with a pair of Reebok athletic shoes.
October 22-28, 2006, is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Awareness Week! If you have any questions or concerns about lead poisoning, contact the Blue Ridge Poison Center 24 hours a day at 1-800-222-1222. Cell phone users may dial 1-800-451-1428.
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