WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Toy Manufacturers of America (TMA)
has pledged that its members will help reduce children's
exposure to hazardous lead levels. They will go beyond
what the law requires by eliminating lead from their
products. This follows a request by the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that asked all
manufacturers to eliminate the use of lead in products used
in or around households, schools or in recreation. Lead
poisoning in children is associated with behavioral
problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth
retardation. It is estimated that approximately 930,000
children between the ages of 1 and 5 have blood lead levels
that are of concern.
Young children are most commonly exposed to lead in
consumer products from direct mouthing of objects or
handling the objects and then putting their hands in their
mouths. "Because lead accumulates in the body, even
exposures to small amounts of lead can present health risks.
That's why we are encouraging companies to voluntarily
eliminate lead in all consumer products to prevent any
unnecessary exposure of children to lead," said CPSC
Chairman Ann Brown.
CPSC enforces the Federal Hazardous Substances Act
(FHSA). Under the FHSA, toys or other articles intended for
children that expose children to hazardous amounts of lead
are banned. A household product not intended for children,
but which poses a lead poisoning risk, requires
precautionary labeling. While CPSC does not have the
statutory authority to require companies to stop using lead
in consumer products if the levels released are not
hazardous, CPSC has asked companies to voluntarily eliminate
lead from all products used in or around households, schools
or in recreation. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring
the safety of any lead substitutes.
According to TMA, which recently surveyed members of
its safety committee, lead is not deliberately added to any
toy product. In some instances where lead has been found in
a toy product, most cases resulted because of suppliers not
following the manufacturing specifications.
TMA Chairman Peter Eio said, "We are pleased by the
results of the survey and the TMA Board has directed the
Association to conduct an education program to remind
manufacturers of the hazards of lead and to re-commit
themselves to continue to make products that are free of
lead. In addition, we intend to ask the International
Council of Toy Industries to adopt this practice and to
conduct an information program throughout the industry."
According to TMA President David Miller, "TMA members
have always been vigilant in ensuring that children are not
exposed to hazardous levels of lead from their products. We
are now going beyond what the law requires, and eliminating
lead from our products altogether."
In the United States, TMA members represent about 85
percent of toy sales.