Group finds lead in Barbie, Disney toys; focus is still on China

[DainBramaged]

A California environmental health advocacy group commissioned testing on some 250 toys and found high lead levels in seven of them, including Barbie and Disney-branded products.

While the percentage that failed was low, the findings released by the Center for Environmental Health were disturbing nonetheless for just how high the levels were -- in some toys they were dozens of times above the legal limit.
The Barbie and Disney toys that flunked had the highest lead levels of those tested. In conjunction with the findings, California Attorney General Jerry Brown followed the group's announcement with a letter putting retailers on notice that his office would be enforcing lead standards. Some of the toys were found at stores that carry leftover merchandise, while others were found at major retailers.

Here are the toys that were found to have lead, where they were purchased and how much was found (the limit is 300 parts per million):

Disney Fairies Silvermist's Water Lily Necklace sold by Walgreens, 22,000 ppm
Barbie Bike Flair Accessory Kit sold by Tuesday Morning, 6,196 ppm
Reversible Croco Belt sold by Target, 4,270 ppm
Paula Fuschia Open-Toed Shoes sold by Sears, 3,957 ppm
Dora the Explorer Activity Tote sold by TJ Maxx, 2,348 ppm
MSY Faded Glory Rebecca Shoes sold by Walmart, 1,331 ppm
Kids Poncho sold by Walmart, 677 ppm

Brown's office has been aggressive in its pursuit of stores that stock toys in violation of lead standards. His office used a settlement with toy companies over lead levels to give out $548,000 in grants for consumer groups to help police store shelves. The testing that was done by the Center for Environmental Health was funded by one of those grants.

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/18/group-finds-lead-in-barbie-disney-toys-focus-is-still-on-china/