Red, Green, and Blue

Instead of getting coal in their stockings, this year’s naughty (and even nice!) children may get lead. At least, that’s what may happen as parents look for cheaper toys this holiday season because of the nation’s economic woes.

Reports the Chicago Sun Times, the economic downturn can cause parents to turn to secondhand toys and discount Web sites to fill that space under the Christmas tree. And experts on Wednesday warned that those toys could be ones that got into the country before inspectors started seizing tainted toys in 2005.

But lead recalls on new toys as a whole are down this year. Either foreign toymakers are getting better, or the nine people in charge of inspecting toys in ports. Yeah, nine people.

Congress recently passed new regulations about lead toys, but they aren’t going to be put into place until after the holidays. But if looking at the new standard versus the old standard is any indication, they need to go into effect soon. Says the Sun Times,

“The current limit on lead paint on a children’s product is 600 parts per million. The new law will lower that to 90 ppm next summer. Children’s advocates say 600 ppm is dangerous, especially for young babies who often mouth toys.”

But the U.S. as a whole still falls far behind the European Union in regulating toxic and potentially toxic chemicals in toys…and products as a whole. So it may not be just the toys under the tree that contain toxic levels. Parents should watch closely where they are getting gifts from Santa, and if they’re in doubt, there’s always coal.

Or perhaps clean coal?

The latest toy recalls can be found at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

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Green Family Values: Recall, Recall, Recall

Photo Credit: Su Bee Buzz! at Flickr under a Creative Commons License

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