Another Toy Recall: When Will the Madness End?
Enough already. Are you tired of all the toy recalls? We sure are. 
Sarah writes about the recent Mattel medical kit recall on Blogging Stocks. It appears that the blood pressure cuff has "lead in worrisome amounts", according to the consumer reports press release. As you do your holiday shopping, you can refer to the recall list put together by notinmycart.org ( Lisa the Activista breaks it down for us busy parents over on Activistas). Has the recent stint of recalls effected your approach to gift-giving this season?
Unfortunately it's noy just toys we have to worry about either. There was a story on npr this morning about a couple whose children had high amounts of lead in their blood so they had their house tested. Lead was found in pasta bowl, a decorative belt, even the old windows in their home.
You can hear the story here: http://www.here-now.org/shows/2007/11/20071121_2.asp
I don't want to sensationalize or cause panic, but I think parents should know there are other sources put there besides toys.
Posted by: Little Melissa | November 21, 2007 at 11:37 AM
If Sen Smith & Wyden or Rep. Blumenauer reply to my letter on the topic that I delivered last Friday with a bag of plastic toys for each, I'll let everyone know what they say. If you are mad enough to send a lette, too, you can easily download it from Activistas: http://urbanmamas.typepad.com//activistas/2007/11/toxic-toys-from.html
Posted by: lisa | November 21, 2007 at 02:15 PM
A good resource is US PIRG´s annual trouble in toylabnd report and its tips for parents. worth a peek, esp. this holiday season. all i want for christma is some lead-free toys, some lead-free toys (remember that sone about the 2 front teeth?). http://www.uspirg.org/issues/toy-safety/trouble-in-toyland-report and http://www.uspirg.org/issues/toy-safety/tips-for-toy-safety-07
Posted by: lisa | November 21, 2007 at 02:22 PM
Ironically enough, my 3 year old (who still puts EVERYTHING in his mouth) just got this doctor kit on Saturday as a birthday present from his grandmother. I'll now be dropping this toy off with my letter for Sen. Wyden and Blumenauer!
But as infuriated as I am about the toy recalls, as the first poster notes, we should remember that the greatest source of lead poisoning by far is paint and lead-dust in houses built before 1978. In Portland, this is 85% of the housing stock. If your house is built before 1950, you are almost certain to have lead in the paint.
Posted by: andrea | November 21, 2007 at 02:30 PM
we got this dr. kit for our son last Christmas! (I just threw it away). I'm definitely wary of the toys we have, and that he is so attached to; and of the toys we will be buying this Christmas. Not to mention watching out for Bisphenol-A in plastic bottles and sippy cups. Egads! Part of me feels like things are getting a wee bit hysteric, but the other part of me is so very glad that all this is coming to the surface. I just hope these hidden threats haven't already damaged my sweet boy, and cause him to be dealing with the health repercussions as an adult. I feel a sadness that we've so polluted everything we touch, but then I feel relief that our eyes have been opened, even a little, to what's out there.
Posted by: Laura S. | November 21, 2007 at 07:07 PM