How Dangerous Toys Could Harm Kids
More than 9 million toys made in China for Mattel are being recalled because they could be a safety risk to children.
This comes on the heels of another big
On The Early Show Wednesday, medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay explained the health issues involved.
Most of the toys listed in this new recall contain tiny magnets. Though they're small magnets, Senay points out, they're pretty powerful. And if they attract one another inside the digestive tract, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says can form large enough groups of small magnets to be able to rip holes in the wall of a child's intestinal wall, or create a blockage in the intestine. Similar damage can occur in the respiratory system if the child somehow inhales these magnets. The CPSC says it knows of three children who've ingested magnets like these and suffered serious intestinal perforations that required surgery.
The recalled toys with lead paint can be a problem if a child eats the lead, Senay says. If the child puts the toy in his or her mouth, lead from the paint can come off the toy and get into the mouth, and then the child could swallow it. That's especially true if the paint gets chipped, either from the child biting the toy, or from other damage the toy sustains.
In children, especially those under 5, the most important harm from lead paint may involve the brain and nervous system, Senay continued. Kids that young are still developing, and if lead slows that development, the result could be permanently diminished IQ and problems with physical coordination and behavior.
Lead poisoning doesn't necessarily produce any symptoms, Senay says, but, when they're present, they may include pain in muscles or joints, fatigue, poor concentration, behavioral problems, loss of appetite, or a metallic taste in the mouth. In fact, lead is known to have a sweet taste, one that might induce a child to chew on one of these toys more than some other toys.
If a child has been playing with toys that have lead paint, what should the parents do?
A couple of lead poisoning experts who are officers at the American Academy of Pediatrics told CBS News the first thing to do would be, of course, to get rid of the toys. Then, think about taking the child to the doctor for a simple blood test to screen for excessive lead. Those physicians say concern should be greatest if you saw your child putting the toy in his or her mouth, or if you examine the toy and see bite marks, or, if the paint on the toy is damaged or in poor condition. Those are all signs that lead might have broken loose and entered your child's mouth.
Aside from lead on toys, Senay added, other possible sources for parents to be aware of include lead in house paint: Even though such paint has been off the market for about 30 years, that's actually much more of a concern, even now, than toys are. The newest coats of paint on your walls may be lead -free, but if there's even one old coat that contains lead under the fresh paint, there's a risk that contaminated paint chips are landing on the floor where your child can get them. Old plumbing and other fixtures may also contain lead. So, while you're thinking about lead because of this toy recall, remember: The biggest health hazard your children face from lead may have nothing to do with toys.