Lead in Toys

The dangers of lead exposure have been known for decades. The most common route of exposure to lead in the U.S. is housing built before the 1978 ban of lead-based paint and the contaminated dust and soil it generates. Toys containing lead also present an important risk, particularly to young children who are likely to place the toys in their mouths. Even at very low levels of exposure, lead can cause developmental delays and effect brain development.

Even though lead paint was banned in the U.S. in 1978, it continues to be used in many countries throughout the world. Because of this, lax oversight by toy manufacturers and distributors can lead to the importation of toys tainted with lead-based paint. Lead can also be found in toys when it is used a stabilizer in plastics. The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) has released two fact sheets to help parents make sense of the recent recalls of toys tainted with lead paint. The first fact sheet titled "Testing for Lead in Consumer Items," explains the various options that parents have for testing household items to confirm or deny the presence of lead. The second fact sheet titled "Toys and Childhood Lead Exposure" explains how lead ends up in toys and how the lead can be ingested by children through normal play.

Lead Awareness Fair

The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) joined with Angie's List and the Washington, DC Health Department to host a free Lead Awareness Fair at the Reeves Center, on the corner of 14th and U St. NW, between 10am and 2pm on Saturday, October 20, 2007. Families who attended the event received:

• Free blood lead screening, provided by Mary's Center
• Free training in lead-safe work practices, provided by the National Center for Healthy Housing
• Free XRF screening of toys and household products, provided by DOH and the National Center for Healthy Housing
• Info specific to services for pregnant women, provided by Lead-Safe DC (National Nursing Centers Consortium)

Please see the attached press release for additional information.

Click here to see the Angie's List article "Lead's Painful Legacy.