About 2,300 Carolina Function Generator Kits/Children’s Educational Kits are being recalled by Carolina Biology Supply due to risk of lead exposure, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced. Consumers should take the recalled kits away from children immediately. The recalled Children’s Educational Kits were manufactured in Canada and imported by the Carolina Biological […]
About 2,300 <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability">Carolina Function Generator Kits/Children’s Educational Kits are being recalled by Carolina Biology Supply due to risk of lead exposure, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced. Consumers should take the recalled kits away from children immediately.
The recalled Children’s Educational Kits were manufactured in Canada and imported by the Carolina Biological Supply Co., of Burlington, North Carolina and are being recalled because the yellow lids in the kits contain excessive levels of lead. Although there have been no reports of incidences or injuries, lead exposure is not always immediately identified.
A known neurotoxin, lead exposure can cause brain and nervous system damage in children and fetuses, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches, mental and physical retardation, and behavioral and other health problems. Of particular concern is the developing brain because negative influences can have long-lasting effects and can continue well into puberty and beyond. Lead is known to cause cancer and reproductive harm and, in adults, can damage the nervous system. In high doses, lead poisoning can cause seizure, coma, and death.
Once poisoned by lead, no organ system is immune; experts agree that there is no safe level of lead.
This recall involves the Carolina Function Generator Kits that are mathematical function teaching aids. The kit consists of a yellow plastic lid, leg stands, base, and whiteboard cards. The yellow lids have two slots labeled “IN’ and “OUT†and are embossed with the name “Carolina†and “Lid†in raised letters.
The recalled Carolina Function Generator Kits were sold at Carolina’s catalogs and online at www.carolina.com nationwide and directly to schools from February 2009 through January 2010 for about $34. They were also sold with “Math Out of the Box Kits†for between $780 and $2,930.
The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately take the recalled kits away from children and contact Carolina Biology Supply to obtain a free replacement kit. The firm is directly contacting purchasers of the educational kits. Carolina can be reached, toll-free, at 1-877-316-1848 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday; at the firm’s Web site at www.carolina.com; or by email at function.generator@carolina.com
We have long been writing about the dangers of lead exposure on the general population and, most especially to children. Lead poisoning is considered the greatest environmental health threat to children under the age of six, a very serious issue given that these children face the greatest risks since their growing bodies absorb lead easier than adult bodies. Of concern is that items, including children’s toys, keep turning up in the market with lead levels in excess of federally mandated lead standards.