Toys tainted with lead being recalled

Parents who recently purchased painted toys from Fisher-Price, the toy company owned by Mattel, are being advised to keep any toys they think may be tainted away from children. Toys containing lead in excess of permissible levels are being recalled including Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, and other children's toys. The toys, manufactured in China, were sold at retail stores throughout the United States from May 2007 through August 3, 2007 for between $5 and $40 Children often chew on toys getting lead paint directly into their system, or lead paint can release chalky dust that can get on children's hands and be easily swallowed getting into a child's circulatory system.

"Parents who are concerned do not need to panic. A simple blood test, usually a finger-stick, is used to measure the level of lead in a child's system" said Stuart Brown, DHR's director of the Division of Public Health. "The only way to know for sure if your child has been exposed to lead is to have the test done. Your child's doctor or local health department can do the test and explain the results. If elevated levels are detected then more blood may be needed for further testing," Brown said.

Your child's doctor or local health department can do the test and explain the results. For more information about the Georgia Childhood Lead Poisoning Program please visit http://health.state.ga.us/programs/ lead/gaq.ask#8, or you may call the Lead Poisoning Hot line number 1- 888-247-9054. For a list with descriptions of toys recalled you may visit http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/ prerel/prhtml07/07257.html.