Reading Books May Be Dangerous to Your Health and Welfare

There is an old saying that states, "Buyer Beware" but I believe that saying was popular long before the Consumer Product Safety Commission began issuing recalls. On any given day in America, we are bombarded with any number of recalls from automakers to baby food and everything in between. We have lived through the horror of the tainted beef, bad car tires, tainted medicines and the faulty seatbelts. I thought I'd heard it all - until yesterday.

On January 8, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued two recalls concerning (are you ready for this?) - Books!

These recalls concern both the materials they are made of and the instructions that they contain within that can be hazardous to your health.

Recall number one involves the children's "Big Rex and Friends" cloth books that are being recalled due to risk of lead exposure. Apparently, a red plastic dot sewn in the book contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Recall number two is a series of Home Improvement books recalled by Oxmoor House due to faulty wiring instructions; shock or fire hazard to consumers. They were sold nationwide at Home improvement stores and bookstores from January 1975 through December 2009. Reportedly, the hazard here involves the books containing errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions that could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring, posing an electrical shock or fire hazard to consumers.

I know that we have become desensitized to recalls. There are so many being tossed at us on a daily basis about almost everything. It boggles the mind and puts us on overload. But, books?

I understand the children's book - lead is a horrible concern. The recent imports from China with excess lead had us all scrambling to check the kids' toys and such.It's the Home Improvement books that have me really worried.

America has prided itself on the DIY's growing industry where everyone is trying to save money by fixing things themselves. Websites with How To's such as eHow have grown in popularity.

So, it begs the question - Who is really watching what people are telling others to do? Is there a comfort level or experience behind these How To articles and books? I wonder if we should change the 'Buyer Beware' to 'Reader Beware'.

You can obtain a full refund for any of the books mentioned above. Visit http://www.recalls.gov/recent.html for a view at all of the current recalls in process by the Consumer Commission.

Be careful what you read!