Federal Panel States Current Lead Poisoning Diagnosis Levels for Kids Too High
By admin on January 23, 2012
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that for the first time in 20 years a federal panel with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging the government to lower the threshold for lead poisoning in children. New research convinced members of the panel that children may be harmed from lead levels in their blood that are lower than the current standards.
The panel, named the Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, has suggested lowering the definition of lead poisoning for children from 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood to 5 micrograms. This means that if the new standard is adopted, thousands more young children could be diagnosed with lead poisoning. Health officials estimate that as many as 250,000 kids may have lead poisoning, but with the new standard, the number may go up to 450,000.
Lead, which for years was a metal common in gasoline and paint, can severely harm a child’s kidneys, brain, and other vital organs. High levels of lead in the blood can cause convulsions, a coma, or even death, while lower levels can impair hearing and behavior, as well as reduce intelligence, among other problems. Too much lead in the bloodstream has also been determined to cause harm to developing brains and lead to a lower IQ. Victims of lead poisoning are often children who live in older homes that are rundown or under renovation, as the little one may pick up paint chips or dust and put it in his or her mouth. Children have also gotten lead poisoning from dust tracked in from industrial worksites or from soil contaminated by old leaded gasoline.
Finding out your child has lead poisoning can be devastating as the effects it can have are detrimental to a child’s health and well-being. If your child suffers from lead poisoning that you feel was caused by the negligence of another party, a skilled Baltimore lead poisoning lawyer can help. Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” will help you obtain full compensation to help with your child’s medical bills and treatments. For a complimentary consultation, call (877) 228-4878.
CPSC Adopts New Phthalates Testing Requirements for Child Products
By admin on August 4, 2011
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved new third-party testing requirements for phthalates in children’s toys and child care articles, according to a recent news release. The approval was unanimous with a 5-0 vote.
Phthalates are a certain type of chemical which is used to increase the flexibility of plastics and other materials in various products. The new requirements are an effort to ensure compliance with federal phthalates limits. In 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) banned the use of three phthalates in concentrations over 0.1 percent, permanently; and temporarily banned the use of three others phthalates in concentrations of over 0.1 percent, for child products that can be chewed, mouthed, or sucked.
Since February 2009, it has been illegal to manufacture or sell products that violate the aforementioned standards. The new testing regulations are expected to help ensure compliance with these standards. All manufacturers, private labelers, and importers have until December 31, 2011, to set up a third-party testing program. The only parts or pieces that will be tested and must be certified are those that would contain phthalates.
One would expect that of all consumer products, those intended for children would be the safest but sometimes, child products such as toys, cribs, and care articles are the most dangerous. They often contain defects that increase the risk of a serious child injury.
It is a child product manufacturer’s job to ensure production of a safe product. If your child has suffered an injury due to a defective or unsafe product, an experienced Maryland child injury lawyer can help. Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” can help you understand your legal rights and will work diligently in pursuit of fair compensation for the losses and damages your child has suffered. Call today for a consultation at 877-228-4878.
Pottery Barn Kids Cribs Recalled
By injuheis on July 16, 2010
According to the Associated Press, 82,000 cribs “from popular retailer Pottery Barn Kids are being recalled over safety concerns.” The recall applies to all Pottery Barn Kids drop- side crib model numbers.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is concerned that faulty hardware could lead to the drop-side rail on the crib detaching and potentially causing infants to suffocate or become entrapped. 153 young children in the past four years have died due to drop-side cribs.
While the CPSC’s decision to ban the cribs is good news, what took it so long? Close to two hundred children are killed by a particular type of crib and it takes the CPSC four years to take action? That’s not acceptable. The CPSC needs to do its job and move quicker to recall or ban potentially lethal defective products in the future.
Steven H. Heisler takes child safety seriously. If your child was injured in an accident, or due to a defective household product, or the negligence of another person, contact a Maryland child injury lawyer. Steven H. Heisler handles child injury claims and will make sure that your child’s rights are protected.