Putting Lead in Perspective This Holiday Season

Lead — it's the No. 1 concern on most parents' minds as they cram the toy aisles and surf online for their kids' wish lists. After a year full of unsettling recalls, many moms and dads are wondering what's really safe — and with good reason.

With chronic exposure, lead can accumulate in the body, causing lead poisoning, which can bring on a host of serious health problems like learning and hearing disabilities, behavior problems, and delayed development. Even low levels of lead in a child's blood can indicate enough exposure to the toxin to cause subtle difficulties with behavior and learning that are mostly irreversible.

The good news is that now, more than ever, toy companies are really stepping up their toy testing to make extra-sure that the playthings kids unwrap this holiday season — and beyond — are OK. Although it's natural to be a little wary, the toys being sold in stores today are, if anything, safer than ever. And it's important to note that lead paint in homes — not toys — is the main cause of lead poisoning in kids.

Still, it's easy to become an informed consumer and to keep lead from affecting your kids.

FAQs About Lead

The barrage of information in the media and constant recall announcements can feel overwhelming. So here are some of common lead-related questions answered:

How do hazardous items make it to the public in the first place?

Toys must meet federal and industry safety standards (for things like lead paint, choking hazards, and sharp points). However, these products are not approved for safety by a federal agency before they're actually sold. Companies are expected to comply with the standards, whether they manufacture products in or import them to the United States. The only way companies can make sure their products meet the safety standards is to have them tested, usually by an independent laboratory.

Now, after the onslaught of toy recalls, many companies are buckling down on testing before the products actually hit the shelves. Plus, they're further testing toys that are already in the market and pulling out any that are deemed unsafe. And many retailers are laying down stricter standards for the toys they stock.

Can I test toys for lead myself?

You can buy do-it-yourself lead testing kits, but they aren't always reliable or accurate — they can give false-negatives and false-positives, says the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). And the tests don't tell you exactly how much lead is in a toy (or on a surface like a wall or window sill). It's best to call a lead testing professional instead.

What if my child has played with a toy recalled because of lead?

Coming into contact with a toy — or anything else containing lead — once or twice probably isn't cause for too much concern. It's continual exposure over a period of time that usually causes lead poisoning.

Kids can ingest the dangerous, naturally occurring metal when they mouth or swallow something made with lead or lead paint, or when they simply touch it and then put their fingers in their mouths.