Published: Thursday, October 4, 2007
High lead levels found in toys in Ohio stores
ASHLAND, Ohio (AP) — High levels of lead were found in three Halloween toys made in China and bought at northern Ohio dollar stores, a chemistry professor who tested the products at the urging of a U.S. senator said Wednesday.
The toys, a cup molded like Frankenstein's head and two trick-or-treat candy buckets, all contained paint with more lead than the federal limit of 0.06 percent lead content, said Ashland University professor Jeffrey Weidenhamer, who randomly selected the products.
The Frankenstein cup contained a lead level of 3.9 percent, more than 65 times higher than the acceptable level, he said.
Another 19 Halloween toys or products tested were deemed safe. Testing results were sent to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, according to a statement by Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio.
A message seeking comment was left with the federal agency, and no recall had been issued for the three products.
The items with too much lead posed the greatest risk if the paint were flaking and could easily be ingested by a child, Weidenhamer said. Exposure to lead can affect nervous system and brain development.
"We need to give consumers full information about the products they are purchasing. We need to protect the safety and health of our children and our families first," Brown said in the statement.
Concerns about lead paint led to high-profile recalls this summer of more than 21 million Chinese-made toys, including Barbie doll accessories and toy cars.
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