About 580 <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/toxic_substances">BigBox Hockey Sets, which were imported by Sportime of Norcross, Georgia, have been recalled, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced.
The surface coating on the boards, which are assembled together to form the floor hockey playing field, contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. To date, no incidents or injuries have been reported; however, the effects of lead exposure and lead poisoning are not always immediately apparent.
This recall involves all sets of BigBox Hockey, each consisting of six boards, measuring six-feet long by 10-inches tall. The boards come in six colors: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The boards can be assembled together to create a contained playing area for children’s floor hockey.
The recalled BigBox Hockey Sets, which were manufactured in China, were sold through Sportime’s catalog and online at www.sportime.com from November 2006 through October 2009 for between $147 and $269. Of note, China is a country long associated with products that have been found to be dangerous and linked to an increasing and significant string of recalls.
The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately take the recalled product away from children and contact Sportime to obtain a full refund. Sportime can be reached toll-free at (888) 388-3224 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday or at the firm’s Web site at: www.schoolspecialty.com
We have long been writing about the dangers of lead exposure on the general population and, most especially to children. We have pointed out that 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. Poisoning occurs from swallowing lead, for instance from consuming lead paint chips and from breathing lead paint dust.
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. Lead is also 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. Experts agree that there is no safe level of lead.
Recent research is pointing to lead poisoning as a strong suspect in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a behavioral diagnosis that is continually on the rise and which leads to controversial stimulant medication treatment. It is believed, said Natural News previously, that lead attaches to areas in the “brain’s striatum and frontal cortex†where lead causes specific genes to either turn on or remain dormant. This can disrupt brain activity and alter psychological processes maintained by affected neurons, which, according to emerging research, can have an affect on “hyperactivity and lack of vigilance,†explained Natural News.
