In response to the findings, Health Canada has ordered most of the toys pulled from store shelves.
The Toronto Star, Canada’s largest newspaper by distribution, found lead in about a quarter of the toys it tested. One of the items was a “My Baby” baby pacifier sold at Everything For a Dollar in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto.
The mouth guard of the pacifier had 10 times the proposed legal limit for lead. The pacifier was made in Thailand, the products below were all made in China.
Other items included a jewelry kit labelled “Lead Free.” The Star purchased the kit at Animal Crackers and found the clasp of the necklace tested at 150 times the legal limit for lead. Since September 2004, almost 6,000 of the kits have been sold across Canada, said Health Canada.
Other items include the “Make-It Special” pewter scrapbook charms sold at Dollarama. Health Canada warns, “Anyone swallowing one of the disks is at high risk of severe, or even fatal lead poisoning.”
An orange mini hockey stick with Canada printed in black leaded paint, and a husky dog stuffed animal dressed as a Mountie also contained dangerous levels of lead.
Children exposed to lead through sucking on or mouthing tainted toys can suffer irritability, lowered IQ, and even death.
Other recalled items include: Super Dooper Charms (China), Shoelace charms(China), GTG (China) Kool Charmz, Pop Pop Toy Boats, China(specifically the "Titanic" and "Hut"). Fairy Dust Pendants and Candle Charms, a product of Hong Kong, China, were also recalled.
A a Hannah Montana bracelet sold at Wal-Mart was not recalled, however, despite the Star finding its rhinestones had 445 times the legal limit of lead. Health Canada's tests did not reveal lead over the legal limit.
In an interview with the Epoch Times, David Bruser, said “It could be there was lead in mine but not the sample they took.” Bruser noted his investigation found lead contamination was not uniform and could change between identical toys.
For a list of recalls and other warnings visit healthycanadians.ca.
