"Recall: train contains lead"
"Recall: flashlight colored with lead paint"
"Recall: SpongeBob is contaminated with lead"
These headlines greet us once or twice each week now, and it may be time to reevaluate our outsourced manufacturing. The simplest explanation for this rash of recalls is widespread incompetence. It's possible that one of the largest manufacturing economies in the world, well known for its ability to produce inexpensive exports with decent quality controls, is incapable of something as easy as not buying lead paint.
Alternatively, my inner conspiracy theorist notices that almost all of the recalls involve items sold to children. At least, I'm unaware of any recalls for TVs or car stereos. No, the common thread seems to be that we're buying these ill-made products for our kids. How unfortunate for China's largest global competitor if a generation of its children were poisoned. It would leave America to deal not only with the immediate problem of treating and caring for the these damaged kids, but also the long-term societal symptoms of higher crime rates and people unqualified for high-tech service industries.
Either way, this has to stop now. Voluntary recalls are no longer acceptable. We must take the reasonable and justified defensive procedures of testing imports before they're allowed to enter our country. We're not talking about cancer drugs that we can't make ourselves, or food that can't be grown here. These are kids' toys that we can live without, toys that are hurting our children, toys that we don't have to have.
Until that happens, look closely at the toys you buy and stay away from ones made in China. If SpongeBob and Thomas The Tank Engine can't be trusted then neither can anything else. Whether accidental or malicious, there's just not a need to risk the crippling personal and national consequences of a lifetime of learning disabilities for a toy.
Not just lead, either
And who wouldn't want to give date rate drugs to the kids on Christmas morning?
mmm lead
It's not necessarily just childrens toys. I just received a coffee mug as a gift from my employer. I turned it over and looked at the bottom and there's a label "Made in China".. "The materials used as colored decorations on the exterior of this product contain lead, lead compounds and/or cadmium..." Needless to say, I'm not planning on drinking out of the cup. At least it is only "known to the State of California" that these chemicals cause cancer, et al. So maybe it's safe where I live. :)
The difference comes in, and the reason for all of the recalls being childrens toys, is that children put toys in their mouths. How often do you put your VCR, DVD Player, Stereo, etc in your mouth? They're likely to contain lead, and possibly other deadly elements. It's fine to be careless with VCRs, but I find it to be completely irresponsible for even considering using lead paint on childrens toys.
Maybe they want you to leave?
Do you work for Union Carbide, by chance? :-)
I got a bunch of Christmas lights last year with a similar warning along the lines of "wash hands thoroughly after touching". Great.
As far as what kids put in their mouths, I don't think there's much of a pattern beyond "anything that will fit". I've seen kids cheerfully gnawing on cell phones and remote controls, and I wouldn't find lead's presence acceptable on the outside of those, either. I can see it being inside them as a part of the electronic controls, but not exposed.
I guess it just strikes me as senseless because I can't think of a single valid reason to use lead compounds on the outside of household goods. This shouldn't be happening because there's just no reason for it.
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