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AAJ Urges Ban On Children's Jewelry Containing Lead
More Than 400,000 Already Have High Exposure Levels

Tuesday, March 13, 2007 (Washington, DC)—The American Association for Justice, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, is urging the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban children's metal jewelry containing lead.

"With an overwhelming number of toy recalls recently, the CPSC should be focused on keeping dangerous toys off the market, not weakening standards that force toy companies to act responsibly,'' said Jon Haber, AAJ chief executive officer.

Lead is a hazardous substance that can cause irreversible brain damage in children. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than 400,000 children between the ages of one and five have dangerously elevated levels of lead in their blood, many encountering physical problems as the result of playing with toys. The CDC also reports that in 2003, a four-year-old Oregon boy died after swallowing a toy necklace and in February 2006 a four year old Minnesota boy died after ingesting a metallic charm. In both cases the boys died many days after ingesting the objects.

Within the past year, the CPSC has reported 15 instances of companies recalling children's toys containing lead. Most recently, U.S. Toy Co., of Grandview, Mo., voluntarily recalled 113,800 necklaces shaped like a butterfly because the pendant contained high levels of lead.

The commission is considering a new rule regarding toy jewelry containing lead. In a letter to the CPSC dated March 12, Lewis S. "Mike'' Eidson, the president of AAJ, told panel members that a mandatory ban on lead is preferable to a voluntary, industry-based standard.

"Given the potential health problems associated with the ingestion of lead and the availability of such toy jewelry to children, AAJ supports the creation of a mandatory rule declaring children's metal jewelry containing lead to be a banned hazardous substance,'' Eidson wrote. "A voluntary standard will not adequately address this serious issue.''

Furthermore, Eidson said, a labeling rule proposed by some would prove insufficient to address the problem.

Exposure to lead can lead to lower IQ levels, hyperactivity and developmental delay. The AAJ urged the CPSC to respond quickly to the issue "before other children become injured or die from lead ingestion.''

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As the world's largest trial bar, AAJ (formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America) promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, defends the constitutional right to trial by jury, and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety. Serving members worldwide, AAJ provides attorneys with the information and professional assistance they need to serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values of the civil justice system. Visit http://www.justice.org