Putting Lead in Perspective This Holiday Season

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.

How and when should kids be tested for lead?

If your child had a toy that was recalled because of lead, throw it away immediately and call your doctor, who may recommend a blood test. All kids should be routinely tested at 1 year old and again at age 2, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

The most common blood test for lead involves pricking a finger and taking a drop of blood. If tests show elevated lead levels, the doctor will probably order another test that draws the blood from a vein in the arm or hand.

What are some other ways kids are exposed to lead?

Toys aren't the only things that could contain lead. Other common culprits:

• homes built before 1978 (when the government banned the manufacture of paint containing lead). Young children with lead poisoning usually get it from eating chips of lead-based paint or by inhaling lead particles in dust from walls covered with lead-based paint.
• soil contaminated by nearby streets (because lead was once an ingredient in gasoline) or by lead-based paint used inside or outside the home
• water that flows through old lead pipes or faucets if the pipes begin to break down
• some children's metal jewelry (in the metal itself, not the paint). Most recalls of kids' jewelry involve those sold in vending machines and at dollar and discount retailers.
• some hobby items (like stained glass, ink, paint, and plaster)

What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?

High levels of lead in the blood can cause symptoms like:

• tiredness
• irritability
• muscle and joint pain
• headaches
• stomachaches
• cramps
• loss of appetite
• constipation
• vomiting
• seizures

Lead also has been linked to anemia, severe colic, attention problems, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, and mental retardation. But often there are no symptoms at all. The only way to know for sure whether a child has lead poisoning is through a blood test.

More Information

For a list — with pictures — of toys, crafts, and children's jewelry recalled for lead concerns (not just this year, but as far back as the 1970s), go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) site, enter "lead recalls" in the search box, then click on the first link. And, since toy sellers might not have removed all recalled products from their shelves, make sure to search the CPSC site for recalls before giving your kids any plaything this season — better to be safe, than sorry.