Lead in toys: What to look for

A store attendant arranges toys made by Mattel. The toymaker announced the recall of other toys with small magnets or lead paint on Aug. 14, 2007. (Pat Roque/Associated Press)

What is lead and where is it used?

Lead is a soft, naturally occurring metal used in many products. It can be found in contaminated soil or water, old paint, inexpensive jewelry and other consumer items, such as blinds and leaded crystal.

In its lead strategy, Health Canada identifies four categories of consumer products that children are likely to come into contact with and ingest in significant quantities, some of which may contain lead:

• Products intended to be or likely to be placed in or near the mouth, such as pacifiers, baby bottle nipples, crib toys, mouthpieces of musical instruments.
• Children's equipment, furniture, toys and other items intended for use by a child in learning or play, such as strollers and high chairs.
• Products intended for use in preparing, serving or storing food or beverages, such as cutlery, tableware and cooking utensils.
• Consumer products intended to be or likely to be melted or burned in enclosed spaces, such as candles and fuel for indoor lanterns.

When is lead poisonous to children?

Children are most vulnerable to lead exposure because they absorb it more easily than adults. Due to their low body weight, any amount of lead is more dangerous to children than it would be to adults. Children aged six and under are particularly vulnerable to lead contamination because of their instinct to put objects in their mouth.

The ingestion of about one mg a day on a continued basis can severely affect children but such exposure rarely comes from infrequent handling of toys made or coated with lead, according to McGill University chemistry professor Joe Schwartz.

Toys coated with lead paint can be dangerous when the paint is ingested. Children are not at risk from simply playing with toys made or painted with lead, even if they mouth them once or twice. However, parents should have their children's blood lead levels tested if they notice the paint on their toys has been stripped off.

Blood lead levels below 10 micrograms per decilitre are considered safe. If they rise above 25, doctors will monitor them. At about 40, treatment becomes necessary to reduce the lead load in the body.

Dr. Margaret Thompson, medical director of the Hospital for Sick Children's Ontario Poison Centre, says the likelihood of lead poisoning in Canada — especially from toys — is very low.

How does lead affect young children?

Lead accumulation in the body usually occurs through gradual exposure. However, even small amounts can affect children.

Most who have mild lead poisoning do not look or act ill. Symptoms can be confused with general stomachaches, crankiness, headaches or loss of appetite. Learning problems are often some of the first signs to appear, including an inability to process new information and forgetfulness.

High amounts of lead can harm the nervous system, kidneys and other major organs. Anemia, a decline in red blood cells, can occur, as well as damage to the nervous system that may impair mental function. At worst, lead poisoning can cause seizures or death.

The biggest danger lead poisoning poses to young children is brain damage. This can result in lower IQ levels, hyperactivity, developmental delays and aggression. Although brain damage is irreversible, blood lead levels can be lowered to prevent further damage.

What you can do to protect your children

• Avoid purchasing toys from vending machines. In 2004, 150 million pieces of children's jewelry in the U.S. were recalled from vending machines.
• Avoid toys that have small parts that could be swallowed, especially if the parts are metal or metallic.
• Avoid glossy fake pearls that may be coloured with lead paint.
• Test suspicious jewelry. LeadCheck swabs are available at most local hardware stores and can be used to test products you purchase for your child. Swabs turn pink when lead is detected. You can also order test kits online at www.leadcheck.com.
• Get your child tested, as this is the only sure way to know if your child has been exposed.

How can you tell if your child's toys contain lead?

While it’s difficult to tell if a product contains lead just by looking, here are a few tips that may help you identify it:

• Dull, grey-looking metal.
• Pieces that seem heavy for their size.
• If you rub a piece of jewelry against a sheet of paper and it leaves a grey line, it's probably made of lead.
• Bright colours, especially orange and red.
• Soft plastics, as lead is used as a stabilizer to help keep the plastic soft.

You can test for lead in toys and jewelry on your own. There are several lead testing kits available, mainly through paint stores, large hardware store chains and online.

Health Canada no longers tests toys or jewelry suspected of lead contamination, but encourages consumers to contact the National Capital Region Consumer Product Safety Bureau if they have concerns.

Sources: Health Canada, Sierra Club, California Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch, Hospital for Sick Children's Ontario Poison Centre, McGill University.