Lead Warning: Lead in Keys
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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?
Melissa Haynie says...
Wow! You certainly aren’t the only one in the dark with that one. Scary because keys are some of my kids and my niece’s favorite things to play with. Especially at a young age where it could be very hurtful. Thanks for the info… I know I will be spreading that news to all the moms that I know.
Science-mom says...
Thanks for the info. This is really something every mom should know.