Obama Announces Legislation that Bans Children’s Products containing Lead
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
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Contact: Ben LaBolt
Four Million Bracelets That Contain Lead Recalled This Week
WASHINGTON, DC – In response to a recall announced Tuesday of 4 million children’s bracelets containing lead, U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today announced that he will be reintroducing the Lead Free Toys Act which would prevent lead poisoning in children.
"Decades after lead paint was banned, children’s products keep getting recalled because they contain lead,” said Senator Obama. “As a parent of two young children, it's frightening to think that a toy or a lunchbox I purchase for one of my daughters could unknowingly expose her to toxic lead. Our policy should be clear: if a children’s product contains lead, it shouldn’t ever reach the shelves.”
Yesterday, CNN reported that A&A; Global Industries and the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Tuesday announced a recall of 4 million children's "Groovy Grabber" bracelets sold in vending machines because the paint on the products poses a lead poisoning risk. The CPSC said the paint on the metallic band beneath the decorative cover contains high levels of lead.
Obama's legislation, the Lead Free Toys Act of 2007, requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to prescribe regulations classifying any children's product containing lead as a banned substance under the Hazardous Substances Act. This would include any product marketed or used by children under age six that contains more than trace amounts of lead. The Act also requires the Commission to issue standards for reduction of lead in electronic devices. The bill will be reintroduced next week when the Senate reconvenes.
Lead is highly toxic and continues to be a major preventable environmental health threat to infants, children, and pregnant women in the United States. Lead poisoning can be deadly, and almost one million children nationwide have toxic lead levels in their blood that can cause serious neurobehavioral disorders, impair children's growth, and the function of vital organs.
Illinois has the highest lead poisoning rate in the nation. According to an Illinois Department of Public Health report, Illinois amounted to 20.5 percent of all elevated blood levels reported nationwide. The report also found that African American children are more than three times as likely to suffer from elevated lead levels and Hispanic children are more than twice as likely to suffer from elevated lead levels.
“When it comes to protecting our children from lead, there should be no disparities,” added Obama. “We can no longer rely on recalls to keep dangerous products out of the hands of our children – that’s playing with fire. We must eliminate any risk by taking preventative action and banning the production and sale of products that contain lead.”