State mulls ban on lead in children’s jewelry
Boston Herald, United States
State health officials are proposing a ban on toy jewelry with high levels of lead.
The move would bar the manufacture, transport or sale of toy jewelry containing dangerous levels of toxic substance.
High lead levels have been found in samples of children’s jewelry collected from vending machines, children’s toy sections of retail stores, and jewelry counters.
An analysis determined they could pose a health risk to children.
Although the percentage of toy jewelry samples containing lead is on the decline, more than one in ten samples collected in 2007 had high enough levels to pose health concerns to children.
Exposure to lead in childhood can have serious neurological consequences, some of which can be irreversible.
