Thirty-six states sent out recall warnings this week to parents concerning lead levels in toys given out to children at libraries across the Untied States. More than 12,000 bendable cat and dog toys were given as prizes to thousands of children during a summer reading program called "Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales." The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Health issued a consumer health alert after the toys there were found to have at least four times the amount of acceptable lead. The federal safety limit for lead is set at 0.06 percent. Highsmith Inc. distributed the Chinese-made toys to 1,000 libraries in 36 states.
Lead poisoning can delay physical and mental development and cause learning disabilities and behavioral problems in children. Health officials want parents to return the toys to libraries or hazardous waste sites.
