Around 1.5 million Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway toys have been recalled from the stores because of high amounts of lead in the paint the toys are coated with, which could be harmful for children’s health if taken in by them, as announced by The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and toy company RC2 Corp on Wednesday.
The authorities are suggesting that the toys, including 90,000 in Canada, should not be used and be returned to the company for replacement. The announcement specifically mentions toys marked with manufacturing codes WJ or AZ, which can be located on the bottom of the product or inside the battery cover, do not fall under the banned category. Only the wooden vehicles, buildings and other parts for the Thomas and Friends train set which has the logo "Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway" in the top left hand corner of the package made in China and sold during January 2005 to June 2007 for amounts between $10 and $70 US at various places in Canada and US are a part of this recall.
The complete list of the RC2 recall includes the following products:
• Red James Engine & Red James' #5 Coal Tender.
• Red Lights & Sounds James Engine & Red James' #5 Lights & Sounds Coal
Tender.
• James with Team Colors Engine & James with Team Colors #5 Coal Tender.
• Red Skarloey Engine.
• Brown & Yellow Old Slow Coach.
• Red Hook & Ladder Truck & Red Water Tanker Truck.
• Red Musical Caboose.
• Red Sodor Line Caboose.
• Red Coal Car labelled "2006 Day Out With Thomas" on the Side.
• Red Baggage Car.
• Red Holiday Caboose.
• Red "Sodor Mail" Car.
• Red Fire Brigade Truck.
• Red Fire Brigade Train.
• Deluxe Sodor Fire Station.
• Red Coal Car.
• Yellow Box Car.
• Red Stop Sign.
• Yellow Railroad Crossing Sign.
• Yellow "Sodor Cargo Company" Cargo Piece.
• Smelting Yard.
• Ice Cream Factory.
Although no injuries have been reported so far, the step taken is a precautionary measure taken in light of previous similar instances. Other China made products, including pet food contaminated with melamine and toothpaste contaminated with DEG are some of the health scares currently faced by Canada. Since last year six other toys, including bracelets, charms and army toy sets, have been removed from Canadian stores.
The recall Hotline numbers where the buyers of these toys can ask for a replacement are:
(US numbers): Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 725-4407; CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772.
Lead poisoning levels are higher in children as compared to adults because babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths and these objects can have lead dust on them. They also absorb it more easily. Lead is also capable of causing brain damage. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 million US children under 5 have high levels of lead in their blood, and more than 20 per cent of African American children living in old houses built before 1946 have high levels of lead in their blood.
In the US lead poisoning is formally defined as having at least 10micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. (The average level of lead, for people ages 1 to 70, is 2.3 micrograms). Last year, Health Canada set limits for lead content in children's products at less than 600 milligrams of lead per kilogram of metal.
The lead may come from lead-containing paint, leaded gasoline, some types of batteries, water pipes, and pottery glazes etc. Lead was used in household paints until 1978. Lead exposure in homes can also occur through water, food, household dust and soil.
Exposure to high levels can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma or death. Symptoms include anemia, appetite loss, abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue, sleeplessness, irritability and headaches.
It can be diagnosed by blood tests where a Blood lead level of 10 ug/dL or greater are dangerous to children, even if the person has no apparent symptoms.
A high iron and calcium diet can help protect people against absorbing lead. It can be treated by the chelation therapy in the hospital. The treatment only prevents further damage to the brain but does not repair the injury already caused.
One must be very cautious about the presence of Lead in their surroundings. If you feel that your home is exposed to high levels of lead then you must take the following precautions:
• Even if your children seem healthy, have them tested for lead.
• Wash children’s hands, toys, bottles etc. very often.
• Include low-fat, healthy foods in your children’s meals.
• Get your home checked for lead hazards and clean floors, window sills etc
regularly.
• Do not stand peeling wall surfaces.
• Always dust off soil from your shoes before entering the house.
