lead

High levels of lead found in Disney and Barbie toys.

Posted by Rehan Khalil on November 21, 2009   |   No Comments

A California consumer group tested about 250 products that were bought at major retailers and found that in seven of the toys the lead levels were far greater than the federal limits permitted.

The California Attorney General issued a safety warning in regards to the high lead levels found in the toys. The AG urged retailers such as, Wal-mart, Target, Sears and other stores to remove the products from their shelves immediately.

Also:

Other products that the center says have abnormal amounts of lead are the Kids Poncho and MSY Faded Glory Rebecca Shoes, both sold by Wal-Mart; Reversible Croco Belt sold by Target; Dora the Explorer Activity Tote sold by TJ Maxx; and Paula Fuschia Open-Toed Shoes sold by Sears.

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How much lead is getting into Canada?

Posted by Rehan Khalil on October 17, 2009   |   No Comments

Lead is bad. While in Canada our government continues to supervise the issue we still don’t know what happens in other countries. In fact, a recent article in the Food Safety Magazine states:

In this new era of global food trade, FDA will have to acquire a better understanding of food ingredients and food production practices in other countries. Some countries have not imposed controls on uses of lead within their own borders. Given the potential for lead to be used in a wide variety of agricultural and industrial applications abroad, increased food imports from countries that have yet to put lead exposure controls in place for their own populations could potentially raise U.S. consumers’ exposure to lead once again.

Mexican candies containing lead based wrappers were discovered in 1994 and is cited in the article as an example of what we should watch out for when importing products.

It would be hard to imagine that third world countries would have the same standards for lead screening in food products.

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Lead

Posted by Rehan Khalil on October 14, 2009   |   No Comments

What’s used in both the storage of nuclear waste and baby nipples? Lead.

According to Health Canada, studies have suggested that even low levels of lead in the blood “may have harmful health effects on the intellectual and behavioural development of infants and young children.

According to a study reported by the L.A. Times children exposed to low levels of lead from before birth into adulthood were linked to violent crimes.

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention:

Approximately 250,000 U.S. children aged 1-5 years have blood lead levels greater than 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, the level at which CDC recommends public health actions be initiated. Lead poisoning can affect nearly every system in the body.

Pursuant to Canada’s Hazardous Products Act, lead-based paint is not legal for use on toys sold in Canada.

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