The Bush administration and the government of China both fought to stop rules that would have protected children from lead in toys.
The Bush administration and China have both undermined efforts to tighten rules designed to ensure that lead paint isn't used in toys, bibs, jewelry and other children’s products. Both have fought efforts to better police imported toys from China.
Lead, which can cause low intelligence and neurological problems, is especially toxic to children. Lead has recently been found at toxic levels in a wide array of children's products imported from China.
The Sierra Club pressed the Bush administration to protect children form lead painted jewelry since 2004. High levels of lead were found on inspection of Chinese imports in 2003, prompting the Sierra Club's action. Then, In March 2006, a 4 year old boy died of lead poisoning from lead jewelry.
The Sierra Club’s interest in lead paint in children's products grew out of the largest-ever CPSC-conducted recall. That action on July 8, 2004, targeted 150 million pieces of Chinese-made children's jewelry sold in vending machines across the United States. Since 2003, the commission has conducted about 40 recalls of children’s jewelry because of high levels of lead.
In March 2006, a 4-year-old Minnesota boy died of lead poisoning after swallowing a metal charm that came with Reebok shoes. The charm was found to contain more than 90 percent lead.
What did the Bush administration do next ? Did they show concern about children's welfare? Here's how they responded to a Sierra Club petition from April 2006, just after the little boy died.
Thank you for your petition dated April 17, 2006 requesting the EPA take action in coordination with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regarding lead in toy jewelry. EPA is concerned about the continuing use of lead in toy jewelry and is working with the CPSC to develop the most effective means to address this issue....snip...
EPA does not believe that the actions you requested... would be helpful and are therefore denied. (ed. note:I snipped much material, but the denial of action was the critical element to this document)
The Sierra Club sued the EPA upon denial of their petition. The Sierra Club reached a settlement with the EPA on February 22, 2007 that forced the EPA to write a letter of concern to the CPSC about dangerous lead contaminated children's products. However, lead is still allowed in children's jewelry and toys and China is fighting to keep it that way.
China remains very much under the microscope. It's fighting a CPSC proposal to bring the lead restrictions in children’s jewelry to the same levels as those imposed on toys and furniture — six hundred parts per million, which effectively amounts to a ban.
"We have done recall after recall since 2003. We would like to move towards a ban and make the marketplace safe," said Scott Wolfson, a commission spokesman.
But in a March 12 filing, China was the only one of 48 interested parties to tell the panel that it opposed new restrictions on lead paint in children’s jewelry. Guo LiSheng, the deputy director of a Chinese global trade agency, warned against "unnecessary obstacles to trade" and advocated international rules that allow some lead content. He added that good product labeling was sufficient.
{Editorial note: 600 parts per million lead is still a high level of a poison that is toxic in
the tens of parts per billion range.}
Lead Toxicity
All children should be evaluated for lead toxicity because their developing nervous system makes them much more susceptible than adults. The most common sources of lead exposure are lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust. Seventy four percent of houses that were built before 1978 contain lead-based paint. Blood lead levels higher than 10 µg/dL.
I. Sources of Lead Exposure
Environmental. Lead-based paint, leaded gasoline, lead solder in plumbing pipes, lead dust, lead chromate.
Food storage. Lead-glazed ceramic, lead crystal.
Occupational and recreational. Battery reclamation, precious metals refining, radiator repair, glazed pottery making, lead, toxicity target shooting.
Other. Gunshot wounds lead, toxicity
II. Adverse Effects
Most patients with increased blood lead levels remain asymptomatic; however, blood levels as low as 10-30 µg/dL can produce an IQ deficit of 4-5% in children.
Levels greater than 40 µg/dL cause a decrease in hemoglobin synthesis that can lead to microcytic anemia.
They left out toys and children's products from China.
If you have young children you will need to ensure that the products your children use are safe. You can google "lead testing kit" to find products that will test your children's toys and bibs for lead. Don't expect the Bush administration to do it.