So states are in the process of suing paint companies Sherwin Williams (SHW), NL Industries (NL) and Valspar (VAL)for products that have not been produced in 50 years now. Why are not these same states taking action against items that are affecting children that are being produced today, affecting children today, being used by them today, sold to them today?? Why are we so concerned about a product that has not been produced, sold or used in more than half a century? Here are the current lead recalls:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the manufacturer named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Antique White Furniture from the Cottage Collection
Units: About 2,000
Importer: The Land of Nod®, of Northbrook, Ill.
Hazard: Some of the recalled furniture contains paint with high levels of lead. The lead level exceeds that allowed by the federal ban on lead-containing paint which is designed to protect children who might ingest paint chips or peelings. Lead paint is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Description: The recall includes the following furniture and item numbers. The item number can be found on a label located on the back of the product. The shelf kits include one shelf and two shelf supports for use in the Low Rider Bookcase, the Double-Door Armoire or the District 28 Armoire.
Sold by: Land of Nod® catalog and Web site nationwide, and The Land of Nod® stores in Illinois and Washington from September 2003 to August 2006 for between $50 and $1,100.
Manufactured in: Mexico
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of product: Multi-colored and solid-colored sidewalk chalk.
Units: 50,000 packages
Manufacturer: Manufactured by Agglo Corporation, Hong Kong (China), and imported by Toys “R” Us, Inc., Paramus, NJ.
Hazard: The multi-colored and solid-colored sidewalk chalk contains high levels of lead, posing a risk of poisoning to young children.
Description: The sidewalk chalk is packaged in a clear-plastic backpack-type carrying case with these words on the label: “Chalk To Go…Totally Me!…24 pieces, sidewalk chalk in different colors, fun chalk shapes.” The label on the package also says “Conforms to ASTM- D4236.” The sidewalk chalk comes in several shapes: butterfly, spider, ice cream cone, bottle, cylinder, and triangular stick. The chalk pieces are solid-colored or multi-colored, including red, blue, green, yellow, and purple.
Sold at: The sidewalk chalk was sold at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide from March 2003 to November 2003 for about $4.99 per package.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Return the sidewalk chalk to Toys “R” Us for a refund.
So here we are. Products full of lead being imported into the country and sold to parents for use with their children. How long has this been going on? Could this be the “public nuisance” poisoning children. I find it much more likely that a child playing with chalk or a toy ingests it from their hands or from the air as they erase it vs. a kid gnaw on a windowsill. Since we cannot prove the source of lead in children, how can we arbitrarily exclude all these other more likely sources?