On 12/16/2007, I went to the Redmond (Washington state) Library community room for a free toy testing clinic. Sponsored by Darcy Burner, a decmocratic hopeful, the Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC) was also there. (Darcy's boy's Thomas the Train had been recalled which upset her son.)

The WTC used a professional tester called an X-Ray Fluorescence Analyzer or XRF that can detect lead and cadmium, two of the most deadly chemicals found in paint used on toys imported from China. The XRF is produced by ESSCO Safety Check. The XRF determines the chemical content of the paint or other coating on a toy or dish ware. The XRF can also detect mercury, arsenic, and other toxins.

All toys that passed or not were photographed and added to their database, www.watoxics.org, which has a partial list of recalls. A flier I picked up from the WTC also lists:

Talk about eye-opening!

Brand new Christmas dinner ware (mugs, matching spoons and a cookie jar) from my mother-in-law failed utterly. The mug had 10,500 part per million (ppm) of lead and 2,261 of cadmium. Toxic! My mother-in-law was crushed when she found out. She knew my kids would like them (she was right). She did not see how such things could even be allowed in the country when they could cause such harm, especially to children. All the money wasted. I tried mailing it all back to her via regular mail but the entire package arrived with everything damaged. She could not get her money back and I lost $30 mailing it all back.

Mardi gras necklaces that the girls play with all the time had 37 ppm of lead. When I got home, they all went in the garbage.

It just saddens me that all that toxic Christmas dinnerware is in someone's house somewhere and they do not know. They do not know. It's a shame that all these grassroots organizations have to start to protect against something that should never be allowed in the country. Hopefully, the power of the Internet can help.

Lead in vinyl placements, PVC in vinyl

Vinyl, especially soft vinyl, can contain PVC which is a hormone disrupter. My daughter's little play horses had a "medium risk" on PVC. As someone that night explained to me, inhaling the smell is bad and getting it on the hands and then eating is bad. I think about all those lunch boxes lined with vinyl and wonder what harm that may be causing.

Another mother I knew said someone she knew just bought a Winnie the Pooh vinyl placement that tested positive for lead. Recommendation-- do not use vinyl placements because of the PVC. You are better off and safer with cloth.

The people helping with the testing said NONE of the holiday dinnerware from China passed that night as safe.

Perfect timing. In the Seattle Times on 12/18/2007 was a story "When $1 is no Bargain" "5 things to avoid at a dollar store" about the pitfalls of those dollar stores. Many of the products are unsafe and contain lead. For example, an earlier article I remember reading said that candle wicks have been found to have lead in them. The toys are often sound alike and look like estalished brands.

• Mommy's and Daddy's opinion of The Most Useful Baby Products/Baby Shower Gifts.

Last updated: January 2008
Long overdue cleanup. Added toxic Christmas dinnerware from China to let people know of the danger.