| LEAD INFORMATION |
What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?
Symptoms of Lead Poisoning
- headaches
- muscle and joint weakness or pain
- excessive tiredness or lethargy
- behavioral problems or irritability
- difficulty concentrating
- loss of appetite
- metallic taste in the mouth
- abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting
- constipation
These symptoms may or may not be present, and of course each of them can also be caused by many
other common illnesses. But in cases where some of these symptoms are present for a long time, no
other cause has been found, and there may have been some exposure to lead, then tests for lead
poisoning should be considered.
How do I find out about which products are recalled?
For information on all product recalls, see: www.recalls.gov. For the latest on toy recalls, see: www.cpsc.
gov. For all lead recalls, see www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Recalls/allhazards.html If you suspect that a toy is
unsafe, or to report an unsafe product, contact the CPSC on the internet, or by phone: www.cpsc.
gov/talk.html or 1-800-636-CPSC. To receive email recall alerts from US Consumer Product Safety
Commission www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.
What to do if you suspect your child may have lead poisoning?
Parents should consult with their pediatrician to determine whether a lead test for their child is
warranted.
Is there an acceptable level of lead in toys?
Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that levels of lead above the 600-parts-per-million
would trigger a recall of lead paint. Jewelry products were the most likely to contain high levels of lead,
the center said, with 33.5 percent containing levels of more than 600 ppm.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a level of 40 ppm of lead as the maximum that
should be allowed in children's products. Inspect-A-Toy screens at this recommended level.
How much is 40 ppm you ask? Think of it this way, for example, your local water is continually tested
and monitored to ensure it is safe. Water quality components are often measured and reported in parts
per million, billion or trillion. But what do these really mean in terms we can understand?
PARTS PER MILLION (PPM)
* You clean a 10 gallon fish tank and 1 drop splashes out. That's 1 ppm.
* You stock up with 10,000 boxes of facial tissue, each with 200 sheets, and use 2 sheets.
That's 1 ppm.
PARTS PER BILLION (PPB)
* You inherit $10 million dollars. In counting it out, you discover 1 cent is missing. That's 1 ppb.
* If you are 32 years old, you have lived 1 billion seconds. Close your eyes for 1 second. That's 1 ppb.
What about the at-home testing kits that you can buy online or in stores?
Lead-testing kits are widely available, but consumers should be aware that they can provide both false
positives and false negatives when testing toys and other products. Kits may provide a screening tool,
but should not be used as an absolute determination of safety. Consumer Reports has rated home lead
testing kits. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recently announced that do-it-yourself
home test kits are completely unreliable. For more accurate results, we strongly recommend using a
testing company with an XRF Analyzer.
How does Inspect-A-Toy test for lead?
Inspect-A-Toy trained technicians are equipped with the latest lead detection technology. Our
handheld X-ray Fluorescence Analyzers are the most accurate, safe, and non-destructive tool that
provides laboratory grade testing.
Other than toys, what else can Inspect-A-Toy test?
Virtually every consumer product in your home or place of work. Contact us for details.
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What is Lead?
Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in
and around our homes. Lead may cause a range of health effects from
behavioral problems and learning disabilities to seizures and death. Children six
years old and under are most at risk because their bodies are growing quickly. -
US Environmental Protection Agency
Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in
and around our homes. Lead may cause a range of health effects from
behavioral problems and learning disabilities to seizures and death. Children six
years old and under are most at risk because their bodies are growing quickly. -
US Environmental Protection Agency
What is lead poisoning?
Exposure to lead at a young age has the potential to limit children’s intellectual
development. Since the heavy metal is stored in the bones, it can re-insult soft
tissue throughout life, especially as bones decalcify through the aging process or
due to diseases such as osteoporosis. Pregnant women may even pass lead
onto their fetuses if they aren’t ingesting enough minerals to prevent their bones
from decalcifying during pregnancy.
The link between lead exposure and a number of severe health effects is well
established. Long-term exposure in children can affect a child’s growth, damage
kidneys, and cause learning and behavioral problems, as well as possible brain
damage(1). In adults, exposure to lead can increase blood pressure, cause kidney
damage, nerve disorders, reproductive problems, and other health problems(2).
The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that lead and
lead compounds are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. Lead also
causes environmental concerns when disposed of in landfills or incinerated at the
end of a vehicle life because it can contaminate water, soil, air and wildlife.
(1) (2) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2006. "public health statement for lead
Exposure to lead at a young age has the potential to limit children’s intellectual
development. Since the heavy metal is stored in the bones, it can re-insult soft
tissue throughout life, especially as bones decalcify through the aging process or
due to diseases such as osteoporosis. Pregnant women may even pass lead
onto their fetuses if they aren’t ingesting enough minerals to prevent their bones
from decalcifying during pregnancy.
The link between lead exposure and a number of severe health effects is well
established. Long-term exposure in children can affect a child’s growth, damage
kidneys, and cause learning and behavioral problems, as well as possible brain
damage(1). In adults, exposure to lead can increase blood pressure, cause kidney
damage, nerve disorders, reproductive problems, and other health problems(2).
The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that lead and
lead compounds are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. Lead also
causes environmental concerns when disposed of in landfills or incinerated at the
end of a vehicle life because it can contaminate water, soil, air and wildlife.
(1) (2) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2006. "public health statement for lead
Inspect-A-Toy, Inc.