Recalled toys: What you need to know

Q: Are all toys from China a danger?
A: While many of the recalled toys were manufactured in China, plenty of Chinese-made toys have not been recalled. Several Fisher-Price and Mattel products, among others, have been involved in recent recalls.

Q: Is there a list of recalled toys?
A: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site includes a list of toy recalls back to 1974. You also can call 1-800-638-2772. You can sign up to receive e-mailed recall lists from the CPSC at cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx

Q: Are officials saying I shouldn't buy any toys from China?
A: No. They say they are working on strengthening safety protocols for imports. Specific toys known to pose a risk have been identified through recalls.

Q: Are there any prominent toy manufacturers whose toys are made in the United States?
A: About 80 percent of toys in the U.S. market come from China, so it can be difficult to find American-made toys. Many of the companies are niche operations, such as Maple Landmark Woodcraft in Vermont or Holgate Toys in Pennsylvania. Larger brands that say part or all of their toys are made in the U.S. include K'NEX, Little Tikes and Colorforms. When in doubt, you can always check the box to see where a toy was made.

Q: If I buy American-made toys, am I safe?
A: Going all-American may not be a solution. Quality-control issues can happen in any country -- and according to Carol Rehtmeyer, president of the Toy & Game Industry Foundation, some smaller U.S. companies may test their products less stringently than big-box companies that do business overseas. "Companies who are in the U.S., willing to produce in the U.S., tend to be, on average, smaller entrepreneurial companies," Rehtmeyer said. "Smaller companies are going to have less financial ability to run products through product-safety testing."

Q: My 3-year-old daughter is desperate for a Geo Trax Locomotive, which has been recalled. Are companies going to make more of the affected products, without the lead, before Christmas?
A: Mattel, which owns Fisher-Price, said in a statement Thursday that it does not plan to produce new versions of the toys at this time. It is producing new versions of some of the affected pieces of the toys for use in a replacement program.

Q: Why is lead paint dangerous?
A: Lead is the most common environmental poison to harm children. It can cause abdominal pain, constipation and vomiting, anemia, stunted growth and brain damage, among other things. Many children show no symptoms during exposure.

Q: How big of a risk are these toys?
A: If you just bought the toy and your child hasn't handled it, there's no risk, according to Dr. Marcel Casavant, director of the Central Ohio Lead Clinic and a physician at Children's Hospital in Columbus. Risk increases if children have handled the toy, especially with wet hands, or put it in their mouth, especially repeatedly. There's no magic number on how much exposure will put a child at serious risk, he said.

Q: Do I need to worry about toys from China for older children?
A: Up to age 6, the brain is very susceptible to even small amounts of lead. But even if an older child is playing with the toy, there is still a concern that younger playmates could get ahold of it, or that the toy could be handed down after the recall has been forgotten. "We really do like to plain old get rid of these lead sources," Casavant said.

Q: Are toys the most dangerous source of lead poisoning?
A: Poisoning from toys isn't a big problem in Casavant's clinic. Far more common, he said, is exposure to lead paint from older homes. Other sources of lead exposure include soil, plumbing and adults who bring home lead dust from their jobs, such as plumbers or electricians. There are scores of other sources -- for an exposure checklist, go to OrlandoSentinel.com/leaddanger

Q: What can I do if I'm concerned about lead exposure?
A: See your doctor, or contact the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Sara K. Clarke can be reached at skclarke@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5664. From link: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-asectoysside07090707sep07,0,2343050.story