|
To receive tips, news and alerts by email. |
| Green Moms | ||||||||||
oct 10 
|
Lurking Lead in the HomeI couldn't believe it, a recall letter from the Land of Nod. That antique white dresser that I bought from their cute catalogue for my baby daughter's room had to go. The paint was found to contain high levels of lead. What's this? I thought the US banned lead paint back in the seventies? Even low levels led to reduced IQ, learning disabilities and attention deficit disorders in young kids. Naturally, I freaked out. I called the company to ask for an explanation. The furniture had been manufactured in Mexico, assembled and, yes, painted. Overseas oversight, or lack of, has been in the news a lot lately. Toys, bibs, furniture...and I was lucky I was sent a recall notice.Yikes... Where else in my home lurks this wretched lead? Before staging a household hunt for lead, I called our pediatrician for an appointment. I wanted to test my daughter's levels of lead. Then I fished through drawers, bins and baskets and found some lead in an unlikely place.I remembered reading somewhere online about lead in candy wrappers. Checking the candy stash, I found a bag of organic lollipops. The healthy kind that are made from beets, mango and cane sugar. Super good for you right? Maybe/maybe not. Right there on the package was "manufactured in Mexico". Egad. My organic, beet filled, precious lollipops that I had been proudly handing to my children could be lead pops? Yuk! The red and yellow paint adorning those lovely Thomas the Tank Engine trains -- lead! I remember priding myself on a fine choice. Wood is good. No plastic. Well made. Clever construction. But made in China. I dutifully went through all the Thomas trains, picked out the banished yellow and red pieces, boxed the toxic toys and sent them back to the company for replacements. The dresser went out. I called the lollipop company, they said they had tested the wrappers and they were fine. I don't know if I believe them but what can you do? The pops went too. After speaking to our pediatrician, I also contacted a pediatrician specializing in environmental toxins. She told me that my daughter's lead levels were low, but not as low as they would have liked and we should retest her. We ended up testing my daughter twice (levels were thankfully lower the second test). The specialist was a lovely woman. Calm. Experienced. She asked me where I grew up. I told her NYC. Guess what? After years of living in this big apple, my levels were probably triple that of my daughter's. I should just keep all this information in perspective. Federal levels of lead in paint only became regulated in 1978. Children's products found to have more than 0.06 percent lead are subject to a recall.
But I must say, I am still a little leery of all those little toys. Like the food that I buy, I will certainly check the label.
by Francesca Olivieri, as told to Viki Psihoyos
 In 2006, friends Francesca Olivieri and Susan Gluck Pappajohn started their company, sage baby, an online eco-friendly baby store offering everything from organic clothes and skincare to furniture. They continue to watch their green business grow, while seeking to apply their values to their own home and families. Not always easy, as these urban moms strive to keep it green, whatever that can mean. Witness Francesca (mother of a 7, 5 and 2-year-old) and Susan (lively boys, 9 and 6) navigate the waters (clean, we hope!)
1. 10/13/2007 02:35:42 AM www.cfmtechdesign.com Formaldehyde glue, cutting trees, using toxic materials in manufacturing furniture for homr or schools etc. New Comment |
Posts from Switchboard, NRDC's Blog
- New Study: Exposure to phthalates may affect genitals of baby boys posted by Sarah Janssen
- Study: Pollinator loss costs big bucks, could threaten java supplies posted by Melissa Waage
- FDA on BPA: The public is not reassured posted by Sarah Janssen
- FDA on BPA: Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Eat No Evil? posted by Sarah Janssen
- Nearly One Million Strong posted by Kate Sinding
