Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published April 16, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 16, 2007 at 2:02 AM

E-mail article     Print view

EPA will cut lead in kids' products

Companies that make or distribute toys, zippers and other children's products will face tougher government scrutiny to keep out any lead...

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Companies that make or distribute toys, zippers and other children's products will face tougher government scrutiny to keep out any lead that could poison and kill children or harm their brain development.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreed, in response to legal pressure, to instruct importers and manufacturers to provide health and safety studies if any lead might be found in their products for children.

"Parents still need to be vigilant about the recalls on products marketed to children that might contain lead, and take those products away from children as soon as they are recalled," Jessica Frohman, co-chair of the Sierra Club's national toxics committee, said Sunday.

The EPA's action is part of a settlement the agency signed Friday with the Sierra Club and another advocacy group, Improving Kids' Environment. The EPA also must tell the Consumer Product Safety Commission "that information EPA has reviewed raises questions about the adequacy of quality-control measures by companies importing and/or distributing children's jewelry."

While the EPA can ban a substance such as lead, only the Consumer Product Safety Commission has the authority to ban a product.

The Sierra Club last year petitioned the agencies to monitor and ban the making of any children's jewelry that contains lead. After the EPA rejected the petition, the two groups sued the agency.

The lawsuit followed the death of 4-year-old Jarnell Brown of Minneapolis, who died last year from acute lead poisoning by swallowing part of a charm bracelet distributed by Reebok International. The child's death was ruled accidental, but Reebok recalled 300,000 of the silver-colored, Chinese-made bracelets — found to be 90 percent lead — that the company had given away with its shoes.

In December, the safety commission began taking steps to ban children's jewelry containing more than 0.06 percent lead by weight — about one ounce for every 100 pounds. The commission's decision came after it had recalled more than a dozen products out of concern about lead.

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

UPDATE - 10:02 AM
Radical imam praises alleged Fort Hood shooter

UPDATE - 10:04 AM
With 134 dead, rescuers seek Salvador survivors

UPDATE - 10:09 AM
Iran accuses 3 detained Americans of espionage

Troops in Afghanistan fight swine flu amid war

UPDATE - 10:00 AM
DC area relives terror as sniper's execution nears

Advertising

Video

"Pistol" Pete Ryan
"Pistol" Pete Ryan has been playing basketball in Washington State since 1947.

Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan
Election Night: Mike McGinn
Election Night: Susan Hutchison
Election Night: Dow Constatine
Candlelight vigil for Officer Brenton

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising