Lead levels in lipstick are much higher than previously thought

Pregnant women, take note: A study by the Food and Drug Administration has discovered that lead levels in lipstick are much higher than those detected by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) in a 2007 study that received international attention.

The FDA found lead in all 20 lipsticks tested, at 0.09 to 3.06 parts per million – four times higher than the highest level reported by CSC. A new device was used by the FDA to analyze lipstick; thus, the organization said earlier test methods likely underestimated lead levels.

There were three manufacturers whose lipsticks had the highest lead levels; however, the FDA is not releasing the brand names.

Current Lead Levels Allowed in Lipstick

The FDA has no standard for lead in lipstick, although any level could be unsafe. “Pregnant women using lipstick are unknowingly exposing their fetuses to unknown and unregulated levels of lead,” said Lisa Archer, national coordinator for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund. “FDA should immediately set standards to require manufacturers to make lipstick as safe as possible.” Sounds like  great time to switch to organic make-up.

As with anything, pregnant women should check with their doctor if they are concerned about using a product during pregnancy. In addition, if you are concerned or wonder if something is safe to use – don’t use it.

Do you ever wonder about the toys you purchase for your children?  Exactly what is in that plastic toy?

The Ecology Center, a non-profit group based in Michigan in the United States, tested numerous toys on the shelves in the United States and found that 1/3 of the toys tested contained lead, arsenic, and other chemicals.  They also found that there was no correlation between where the toys were made and the prices of the toys and the amounts of chemicals found in those toys.  For example, toys made in the United States had just as much chemicals as toys made in China. Expensive toys had just as many chemicals as inexpensive toys.

I admit, since the recall of many toys made in China last year due to high lead levels, I thought that I’d be safe if I just avoided Chinese toys.  It was a bit disheartening to find out that despite my efforts (it’s not that easy to find toys made outside of China), my children may still be playing with toxic toys.

According to the group, infant bath toys and books were especially full of chemicals.  I had planned on buying my son some tub toys for Christmas, but I may hold off.  New laws go into effect in February in the United States which ban certain plasticizers in toys.  These chemicals make the plastic more flexible and are used in making vinyl books and tub toys.  As my son puts almost everything in his mouth at this stage, it concerns me that he might actually be ingesting some toxic chemicals from his toys.

What is a concerned parent to do?  This year, I’m doing a bit more research online before I decide on what toys to purchase for my son.  I’m also researching natural toys—toys made without chemicals or toxins.

Are you worried about toxins that are in toys?  What steps are you taking to protect your children?

President Bush just signed a new bill which bans lead from children?s toys. The bill also bans the chemical phthalates, which makes plastic softer, from products and also bolsters the budget and responsibilities of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Last year due to lead issues, over 45 million toys were recalled by the Commission, prompting parents to go through their children?s toys to get rid of unsafe and dangerous products. This bill will give the Commission the authority to oversee testing of toy products and also the authority to penalize those who violate the toy standards. By the year 2014, the Commission will have a budget of $136 million to accomplish these goals.

While this bill sounds like a wonderful thing, it raises more questions for me rather than giving me a sense of security. What does this really mean for the consumer? Will this affect the supply of toys? How will the Commission be able to adequately test and monitor the ever increasing supply of imported toy products? Will this bill actually make a difference?

If you are interested in seeing if you have any toys which have been recalled, or learning more about recalls or voicing your opinion on different products, you can check out the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

How many recalled products do parents have to contend with week in and out? I know I’ve been bombarded with them. Perhaps the new bill passed by the U.S. Senate will finally make a difference in all this. Very simply, the bill (passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 89-3 and I wonder who those three dissenting voices were! ) bans lead in children’s products, as well as phthalates. The measure was passed by the House by a vote of 424-1, and President George Bush has stated he would sign it.

This law, when enacted, will put the U.S. as the lead in most stringent lead standards in the world.

What are phthalates? They’re used mostly to make plastic more pliable, but have been controversial recently with claims by some that they are carcinogenic.

Lead of course, has long been known to be hazardous, even in small amounts. Short-term exposure to high levels of lead cause anything from vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma, even death. Long term-exposure to small amounts can cause milder but still serious symptoms, especially to children and older people.

It will probably take some time for this bill to have its trickle effect finally eradicate lead from all the children’s products in the market today. In the meantime, visit our recall page to get updated on toys and kids products to watch out for.

Children’s Jewelry Recalled by Bead Bazaar USA Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: ?It?s a Girl Thing? Bracelets, Necklaces, and Phone Charms

Units: About 13,000

Distributor: Bead Bazaar USA Inc., of Rockville, Md.

Hazard: The children?s jewelry could contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves ?It?s a Girl Thing? metal necklaces, bracelets, and phone charms. The jewelry features a variety of charms including flowers, shoes, letters and butterflies. ?It?s a Girl Thing? is printed on the packaging along with the UPC numbers 633870018419 (bracelet), 633870018426 (necklace), and 633870018433 (phone charm).

Sold at: Retailers nationwide from February 2006 through June 2008 for about $6.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled jewelry away from children and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Bead Bazaar USA at (800) 838-1769 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the company?s Web site at www.beadkit.com

Master Toys & Novelties Inc. Recalls Little Rider Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Cowboy on a Horse Little Rider Toys

Units: About 6,000

Importer: Master Toys & Novelties Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif.

Hazard: Surface paint on the shoe and pants of the rider toy contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall includes a battery operated cowboy riding a horse toy. The model number 8610B is located on the product packaging. The horse and rider together measure about 8.5 inches in height by 7.5 inches in length. The rider is wearing blue pants and a red shirt and the horse is brown. Only Little Rider Toys with UPC code 603678086101 printed on the product packaging are included in the recall.

Sold at: Dollar and discount stores nationwide from April 2007 through January 2008 for between $5 and $7.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these recalled toys away from children and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Master Toys & Novelties Inc. at (800) 237-5020 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday or visit the firm?s Website at www.mastertoys.com

We’ve all heard about the recalls of toys with lead paint. It almost makes you want to throw out the toybox and start over. In fact, most of the lead your child will be exposed to may not come from toys. If you live in, take baby to daycare in, or spend time in an older home, your baby is likely to be exposed to lead. Most older homes have lead in their paint, or plumbing.

So if you live in an older home, what can you do to decrease your child’s exposure to lead?

Lead paint on windowsills is a hazard, since it’s often at mouth level, and babies and toddlers often chew on the windowsill when looking out of the window.

It’s important to wash hands before eating, but it’s especially so for children living in older homes. Lead paint gradually turns into dust which settles about the home. Children spend a lot of time playing on the floor so it’s important to wash off any dust that might be on their hands. Lead was also used in the joints of old plumbing pipes. Lead gradually leeches from the water pipes into water standing in the pipes. Run water for a minute to get clean water from municipal pipes before drinking, or cooking, or making up formula with it.

If you see old paint chipping, cracking, flaking or turning dusty, call in an expert to have it dealt with safely.

Here’s some more tips on how to reduce exposure to lead if your child spends time in an older home.

This is news to me. And it it may be to all the moms who let their babies and toddler chew on and play with their keys.

In 2001, the California Attorney General sued several major key makers who were making keys with up to 2.5% lead. The lead is a standard additive in millions of keys in use across America. The suit was settled and keymakers agreed to reduce the amount of lead in their keys to no more than 1.5%, and spend thousands of dollars in educating the public via pediatricians and child care providers about the dangers of lead in keys.

The settlement warns that keys, particularly brass keys like house keys, mailbox and padlock keys, still contain significant amounts of lead, even those made after the settlement.

Parents are warned against letting babies and toddlers play with keys, and washing their hands after playing with keys. It also advises to not keep keys where they would touch food or snacks.

Well, I thought I was a fairly well read mom, but I didn’t know anything about this. And I used to live in California when my son was a baby, and I considered his pediatrician’s office to be knowledgeable about things like this.

Am I the only one who didn’t know?

Source — Major Manufacturers Agree to Reduce Amount of Lead in Door Keys Under Settlement of Proposition 65 Lawsuit

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Children?s Metal Necklaces

Units: About 2,900

Manufacturer: Pecoware Co. Inc., of Chino, Calif.

Hazard: The children?s necklaces contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled necklaces include a cat with silver and pink rhinestones, a heart and lock with pink rhinestones, a silver colored heart with a rhinestone crown, and a silver colored lock and key. The necklaces hang from silver colored chains.

Sold at: Department and specialty stores nationwide from January 2006 through July 2007 (cat necklace), and from July 2007 through November 2007 (heart, heart and key, and lock and key necklaces) for about $13.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled necklaces away from children and contact Pecoware for instructions on returning the necklaces for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Pecoware at (800) 456-7326 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm?s Web site at www.pecoware.com

Lead. This toxic metal seems to be found everywhere from children?s toys to food products. And now it?s also found in traditional medicines.

Immigrants in the US have brought over traditional remedies from their native lands. While most of these age-old remedies are safe, a recent report shows that some may actually contain large amounts of lead and are therefore toxic. Examples cited were the Mexican tummy medications greta, azarcon and rueda and the ayurvedic medicines ghasard and mahayogaraj. But take note: lead didn`t get into the medications accidentally. In most cases, it was put there for a purpose ? in some cultures lead is believed to have healing powers!

Those most highly affected are children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 30% of lead poisoning cases in children may be due to traditional medicines.
Lead poisoning symptoms are easy to observe but difficult to relate to their root cause because they resemble symptoms of other ailments. These include lethargy, confusion, seizures, and learning problems. In severe cases, it can cause brain damage and death.

Source:

ABC News 22 Jan 08

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Cranium Cadoo Board Games

Units: About 38,000

Importer: Cranium Inc., of Seattle, Wash.

 
Hazard: The surface paint on the die contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: Only the die found in Cranium Cadoo board games with lot numbers 2007195 through 2007244 are included in the recall. The Cranium Cadoo game is packaged in a square cardboard box with an orange background. The seven digit lot number is printed under the plastic tray on the bottom half of the box.

Sold at: Fred Meyer, Kmart, Shopko, Wal-Mart and specialty game stores nationwide between October 2007 through January 2008 for about $20.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately dispose of the die and contact Cranium Inc. to receive a free replacement die.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Cranium Inc. at (877) 272- 6486 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT, Monday through Friday or visit the firm?s Web site at www.cranium.com

Coin Banks Recalled by TJ Promotions Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Fish Coin Banks

Units: About 1,300

Distributor: TJ Promotions, of South El Monte, Calif.

Hazard: Surface paint on the coin banks contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves coin banks made of plaster that are shaped as a fish. The coin banks are orange with white stripes.

Distribution: The coin banks were provided as a free gift to Coastal Federal Credit Union members in North Carolina from February 2006 through September 2007.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled coin bank away from children immediately and return it to where it was received for a free replacement as soon as one is available.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact T J Promotions toll-free at (866) 742-2493 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm?s Web site at www.tjpromo.com

Be a part of a forever growing trend of women who are choosing to use organic makeup! Most makeup on the market today is made up of many different harmful chemicals and preservatives. A shocking 1/3 of 33 lipsticks tested even contained harmful doses of lead! You may be shocked to know that the FDA doesn’t even regulate the amount of lead that can be found in lipstick what-so-ever. Luckily there is an alternative that’s not only better for your skin, but better for the planet as well. Read on to learn more.

Toy Wagons Recalled by Tricam Industries Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Metal Toy Wagons

Units: About 15,000

Importer: Tricam Industries Inc., of Eden Prairie, Minn.

Hazard: Surface paint on the wagon bucket contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves the red metal wagon model MH1250. The wagon has a red steel bucket, a black handle, a black steel axle support, and black tires.

Sold at: Tractor Supply Company stores nationwide from September 2002 through November 2007 for about $30.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled wagon away from children and contact Tricam Industries for instructions on how to return the wagon and obtain a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Tricam Industries at (800) 867-6763 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm?s Web site at www.tricam.com