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Testing for lead in toys at day care centers
Martha Sanders1, Julie Stolz, Ashley Chacon-Baker
1Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT, USA. Martha.sanders@quinnipiac.edu
Insights
Lead was detected in 12% of toys at daycare centers, posing potential risks to children
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Lead exposure, even at low levels, can negatively impact children's cognitive and behavioral development.
- Current standards may not fully protect children from the risks associated with lead-based materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen toy items in daycare centers for lead content.
- To increase awareness of indoor environmental lead exposures.
- To minimize children's exposure to lead-based products.
Main Methods:
- Occupational therapy students utilized X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology (Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t) for lead testing.
- Testing was conducted in ten daycare and public centers.
- The XRF method is accepted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Main Results:
- A total of 460 items were tested over two months.
- 12% of the tested items (56 out of 460) exceeded 100 ppm lead.
- High lead levels were found in toys with lead-based paint, lead metals, plastics with lead enhancers, and decorative objects.
Conclusions:
- Despite a small number of lead-based products, cumulative exposure presents a risk to children.
- Indoor lead exposure was identified in all surveyed daycare centers, irrespective of socioeconomic status.
- Recommendations for minimizing lead exposure were developed.
Objective:
Exposure to lead-based paint or material has been found to impact children's cognitive and behavioral development at blood lead levels far below current standards. The purpose of the project was to screen for lead in toy items in daycare centers in order to raise awareness of inside environmental lead exposures and minimize lead-based exposures for children.
Methods:
Occupational therapy students in a service learning class tested for lead in ten daycare or public centers using the XRF Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t, a method accepted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Results:
A total of 460 items were tested over a two-month period for an average of 66 toys per setting. Fifty six (56) items tested > 100 ppm, which represented 12% of the entire sample. Items with high lead levels included selected toys constructed with lead-based paint, lead metals, plastics using lead as a color enhancer, and decorative objects.
Conclusion:
While the actual number of lead-based products is small, the cumulative exposure or habitual use may pose an unnecessary risk to children. Indoor exposures occurred for all day care centers regardless of socio-economic levels. Recommendations to minimize exposures are provided.
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Daycare centers
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