More Toy Recalls Due to Lead Paint

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Aug. 23, 2007 -- The list of toy recalls due to lead paint has grown again.

Joining the list are certain products featuring Curious George, Thomas and Friends, SpongeBob SquarePants, and some metal jewelry made for children.

Earlier this month, the toy company Mattel recalled 9 million toys in the U.S., some of which contained lead paint.

That recall followed a recall of nearly a million Fisher-Price toys due to lead paint.

Lead poisoning can permanently harm children, but it typically doesn't happen overnight. No injuries have been reported in the latest round of toy recalls, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

However, the CPSC advises parents or caregivers to take the recalled toys away from kids immediately and contact the companies that distributed the recalled toys for a refund.

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Here are the CPSC's details on the most recent lead-paint recall:

• SpongeBob SquarePants address books and journals This recall includes about 250,000 address books and journals imported from China by Martin Designs, Inc. of Ashland, Ohio. The address books and journals feature SpongeBob SquarePants on the front cover and a black metal spiral binding. The paint on the books' metal spiral binding can contain excessive levels of lead. For more information, including pictures of the recalled items, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07283.html.
• Thomas and Friends, Curious George, and other spinning tops and tin pails -- This recall by Schylling Associates of Rowley, Mass., includes about 66,000 spinning tops and about 4,700 tin pails. The tops are painted with Thomas and Friends, Curious George, or a circus scene. The pails are painted with Thomas and Friends, Curious George, or in a solid red or yellow color. Surface paints on the wooden handles of the tops and pails contain excessive levels of lead. Tops with plastic handles aren't included in the recall. The tops and pails were sold at specialty toy stores and gift shops nationwide from July 2001 through July 2002. The tops were sold for about $13; the pails were sold for about $6. For more information, including pictures of the recalled items, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07282.html.聽
• Children's "Divine Inspiration" charm bracelets imported by Buy-Rite -- This recall includes about 7,900 children's charm bracelets that contain high levels of lead. The recalled charm bracelets have silver-colored charms including angels, crosses, hearts, and clear and pink beads that hang from a silver-colored charm. The bracelets were sold at dollar stores and other retailers from March 2004 through August 2007 for about $1. For more information, including pictures of the recalled items, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07281.html.聽
• Children's metal jewelry made by TOBY N.Y.C.聽-- This recall includes about 14,000 metal jewelry sets that contain high levels of lead. The sets were sold at T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and A.J. Wright from August 2006 through May 2007 for about $8. The three recalled jewelry sets include a princess pink and clear crystal head necklace and bracelet set with a painted metallic crown pendant, a pink-and-white pearl necklace and bracelet set with a painted metallic poodle pendant, and a jewelry set containing a pink pearl necklace, earrings, and a ring. All sets are sold in a pink gift box with "TOBY & ME" printed on the front. For more information, including pictures of the recalled items, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07280.html.

(As you sort through your child's toy box, are you thinking of asking your pediatrician for a lead poisoning test? Some folks on WebMD's Parenting: 9-12 Months message board are聽doing just that.聽聽Read their comments and share yours.)

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