More Recalls Announced Due to Lead Paint

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has added six more children's products to its current recall list today. All the products announced are being voluntarily recalled due to excessive levels of lead found in the paint or paints used in the children's products.

The CPCS has not received any reports of injury due to the products, but as lead is a bio-accumulative substance, harm would not be immediately noticed. Lead can cause serious development issues in children that are exposed to high levels of the substance, leading to behavior problems and learning disabilities. Children under six are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning as their bodies are still developing at such a fast rate. Also, because of their small size, even small amounts of lead can be a problem and cause problems.

The CPCS recalls come during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, but unfortunately, are only the latest in a number of recalls involving children's toys and products made in China.

The biggest problem with lead-based paint on children's toys is that children are likely to swallow small chips of the paint if it flakes off. Young children often put toys in their mouths, so the danger is there even if the paint looks to be in good condition.

Four brands of children's jewelry are on the latest recall list. Nearly 200,000 units of Beary Cute, Expressions and Sassy& Chic metal jewelry brands sold at Dollar Tree Stores have been found to have high levels of lead. The Beary Cute jewelry being recalled includes stud and hanging earrings decorated with bears, hearts and flowers. Necklaces with beads and pendants under the Expression brand and bracelets and charms from Sassy & Chic are all subject to recall and should be taken away from children immediately. The stores that sell these brands are Dollar Bill, Dollar Express, Greenbacks, and Only $1 in addition to Dollar Tree. Visit the www.DollarTree.com website for more information.

The fourth brand of jewelry recalled also involves Dollar Tree and their affiliate stores. The 110,000 units of WeGlow flashing rings, with either Shrek the Third or Spiderman 3 designs, contain high levels of lead. With the rings, contact WeGlow through its website, www.weglow.com.

Fisher Price is recalling Go Diego Go Boats because surface paints have excessive levels of lead. There are approximately 40,000 units of the boat toy subject to the recall. The boat is orange and yellow, with Diego in the captain's seat, and the boat squirts water. Fisher Price will replace the boat. Visit www.service.mattel.com. This recall is just one of many for Mattel and Fisher Price.

Halloween buckets are being recalled by Family Dollar stores for high levels of paint as well. The bucket in question is purple with a witch against a green moon design. Other designs are not affected, as it is only the green paint that is high in lead. Visit Family Dollar's website or return the pail to the store for a refund.

Jo-Ann Stores is recalling children's garden tools for a similar violation in lead paint standards. This is the third instance of recalls involving garden tools for kids at Jo-Ann. The tools include "Robbie Duckie" rakes, hoes, brooms and spades. The paint on the handles is the culprits, and these tools should be taken away from children and returned to the store for a refund. Or visit the Jo-Ann website at www.joann.com.

Finally, bobble head cake decorations that feature football teams are also in violation of the lead paint standards. The brand name is DecoPac and the recall is only for the bobble heads that have green bases only. Those decorations with black bases are not being recalled. These decorations were sold nationwide at bakeries and ice cream stores from January 2006 to October 2007, and usually came with the purchase of a cake or ice cream. DecoPac will replace the bobblehead, and instructs those with the bobbleheads to take them away from children immediately. Visit www.decopacproductsafety.com for a replacement.