Two more items have been recalled for violating the f<"https://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/lead_paint_poisoning">ederal lead paint standard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced. Although no incidents or injuries have been reported in connection with the recalled articles, consumers should bear in mind that lead poisoning symptoms are often hard to determine without blood testing and effects can take some time to manifest. In both cases, the items recalled were manufactured in China, long associated with products that have been found to be dangerous and linked with an increasing string of recalls.
Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. In children and fetuses, lead exposure can cause brain and nervous system damage, behavioral and learning problems, slowed growth, hearing problems, headaches, mental and physical retardation, and behavioral and other health problems. Lead is known to cause cancer and reproductive harm and, in adults, can damage the nervous system. Experts agree that there is no safe level of lead.
We have long written about the dangers from lead poisoning and have also long stressed that, once poisoned by lead, no organ system is immune, particularly the developing brain because negative influences can have long-lasting effects and can continue well into puberty and beyond. Most recently we wrote that a study revealed that childhood exposure to lead can lead to permanent brain damage.
Lead poisoning is considered the greatest environmental health threat to children under the age of six. Poisoning occurs from swallowing lead, for instance from consuming lead paint chips; lead poisoning also occurs from breathing lead paint dust. Most noteworthy, children under the age of six face these great risks because their growing bodies absorb lead more easily than adult bodies do.
Papyrus Brand Greeting Cards with Bracelets
About 174,000 Papyrus Brand Greeting Cards with Bracelets imported by Schurman Fine Papers, of Fairfield, California have been recalled because the surface paint coating on the bracelets sold with greeting cards contains excessive levels of lead violating the federal lead paint standard. This recall involves Papyrus brand children’s greeting cards sold with an attached wooden bead bracelet. The front of the card says “Happy Birthday To You” and includes an attached bead in the shape of a heart with the word “smile” printed on it. The colorful bracelet includes wooden beads with one in the shape of a butterfly. The back of the greeting card reads, “BD 63401 | © Jean Card & Gift Company” and the card insert reads, “USA $6.95 | CAN $10.50 | Made in China | © Jean Card & Gift Company” and includes UPC number 734524634013 in the lower right hand corner. The recalled Papyrus Brand Greeting Cards with Bracelets were sold at card stores and other retailers from February 2004 to September 2009 for about $7.
The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately stop using the bracelet and contact Schurman Fine Papers for instructions on how to receive a refund. Schurman Fine Papers at can be reached at (888) 990-9095 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Tiny Tink and Friends Children’s Toy Jewelry Sets
A large recall of about 252,000 Tiny Tink and Friends Children’s Toy Jewelry Sets imported by Playmates Toys, of Costa Mesa, California have been recalled because a cylindrical metal connector on a charm can contain levels of total lead in excess of 300 ppm, which is prohibited under federal law. This recall involves charms sold with the Tiny Tink and Friends toy jewelry sets. The charm is attached to a cord using a metal ring and cylinder and included with the sets as a separate accessory that children can attach to the toy necklace, bracelet or key chain. The toy jewelry sets containing the charm accessory were sold in a variety of styles. Charms that have plastic tabs instead of metal rings and cylinders are not included in this recall:
Tinker Bell’s Lil’ Tinker Bracelets: Item: 74634; UPC: 0 43377 74634 8 and Item: 74641; UPC: 0 43377 74641 6.
Rosetta’s Rosebud Key Chain: Item: 74631; UPC: 0 43377 74631 7
Silvermist’s Water Lily Necklace: Item: 74632; 0 43377 74632 4
The recalled Tiny Tink and Friends Children’s Toy Jewelry Sets were sold at retailers nationwide from November 2008 through November 2009 for between $6 and $8. The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately take the charm and cord away from children, discard the items, and contact Playmates Toys for a replacement charm accessory. Playmates toys can be reached at (888) 810-1133 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday or at the firm’s Website at www.playmatestoys.com.
