| When you are buying toys for your kids, you | | | | microscopic dust particles and sometimes larger |
| probably have no idea if the product contains lead. | | | | flakes. When kids play with the toys, they can get |
| Why should you? Toy makers should know the | | | | the lead-infused dust or flakes on their hands, and |
| dangers of lead poisoning, and refrain from putting | | | | then accidentally ingest the poisonous substance |
| the metal in their devices. However, many toy | | | | when they eat or stick their fingers in their mouths. |
| manufacturers decide to outsource their toy | | | | A frightening estimation says that 310,000 kids |
| production, especially to China. This has lead to an | | | | between the ages of 1-5 ingest unsafe amounts of |
| abundance of toy recalls due to lead contamination. | | | | lead each year. Although there are a number of signs |
| From February to July of 2009, there were eleven | | | | and symptoms of lead poisoning, they often do not |
| lead-related recalls, all products geared for a child's | | | | appear before a child is two years old. Therefore, it |
| use. This included everything from shoes to | | | | can be a good idea to get your child periodically |
| educational kits. As a parent, how can you protect | | | | tested for lead poisoning, as it can protect them |
| your child from lead poisoning, if the toxic metal can | | | | from brain and developmental damage, among other |
| come in something as innocent as dinosaur play sets? | | | | things. |
| Although special portable detectors can be used to | | | | Lead can build up and harm pretty much any part of |
| find lead paint, they are not readily available to the | | | | the body. It hinders calcium absorption in bones, |
| public to test everything that crosses your child's | | | | which leads to problems with growth and muscle |
| path. | | | | coordination. Also, as blood carries the toxin |
| The primary place where lead contamination has | | | | throughout the body, it has a decreased ability to |
| lately been found is in the paint of children's toys. As | | | | carry around oxygen. Other symptoms include |
| an ingredient in paint, lead promotes rapid drying | | | | malfunctioning kidneys, nervous system problems, |
| along with increased durability and resistance to | | | | headaches, abdominal pain, behavioral problems, and |
| corrosion. With all of these benefits, it is easy to see | | | | hearing impairment. |
| why some companies do not hesitate to put lead | | | | When purchasing toys for your kids, it is completely |
| into their products. | | | | reasonable to expect safe, lead-free products. |
| Sadly, although lead is poisonous to all ages of | | | | However, if your children have suffered from lead |
| people, it is most harmful in children, especially under | | | | poisoning due to lead contamination in their toys, you |
| the age of six. One of the most common ways that | | | | should seek legal counsel to understand more about |
| children get lead poisoning is from degrading lead | | | | product liability laws. For more information on product |
| paint. As the paint gets old, it comes off in | | | | liability, check out Austin lawyer Vic Feazell today. |