Tag: cpsc

China Exporting Dangerous Metal

US environmental groups and regulators are concerned about lead in products imported from China. Lead is commonly used in Chinese manufacturing because it’s cheap and flexible. Rebecca Williams reports:

Transcript

US environmental groups and regulators are concerned about lead in products imported from China.

Lead is commonly used in Chinese manufacturing because it’s cheap and flexible. Rebecca

Williams reports:


Earlier this year, a Minneapolis boy died from lead poisoning after swallowing a toy charm sold with a

pair of Reebok shoes. The charm was found to be 99% lead.


Scott Wolfson is a spokesperson for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. He says the

commission’s especially concerned about imported toy jewelry made with lead.


“We are an agency responsible for recalling over 160 million pieces of children’s jewelry over the past

three years. Much of it has actually come from China.”


Wolfson says the commission is pressuring Chinese government officials and manufacturers to

switch to alternate metals.


The Sierra Club is suing the US government to stop the sale of toy jewelry made with lead.


For the Environment Report, I’m Rebecca Williams.

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Toy Jewelry Recalled Across the Country

Federal officials are issuing a recall of toy jewelry sold in vending machines around the country. They fear the cheap jewelry could be putting children’s health in danger. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Mark Brush has details:

Transcript

Federal officials are issuing a recall of toy jewelry sold in vending machines around the country.
They fear the cheap jewelry could be putting children’s health in danger. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Mark Brush reports:


The toy jewelry being recalled includes things such as metal rings, necklaces, bracelets, and
pendants. The U-S Consumer Product Safety Commission says about half of the jewelry found in
these gumball and vending machines contains high amounts lead. Children can become exposed
to the lead by putting the bracelets and pendants in their mouths, or by accidentally swallowing
them.


Scott Wolfson is with the U-S Consumer Product Safety Commission. He says the companies who
imported the toy jewelry failed in their testing of the products:


“Federal standards say there should be no accessible lead in children’s products, and that was not
done in this case. The quality assurance was not done, so it made it’s way out there into the
vending machines.”


Wolfson says the jewelry being recalled has been sold over the last two years. He urges parents
to look for the jewelry in their homes, and, if any is found, to throw it out. Studies have found that
even small amounts of lead exposure can lead to permanent developmental problems in children.

For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Mark Brush.


You can see photos of the jewelry and find out more information recall by visiting the website
www.toyjewelryrecall.com, or by calling the Toy Jewelry Recall Hotline at (800) 441-4234.

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