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Recent toy recalls may leave you wondering about your child's exposure to lead. Read on to get the facts from Children's Hospital Boston's Michael Shannon, MD, MPH, an emergency physician, toxicologist and co-director of the Pediatric Environmental Health Center at Children's Hospital Boston and Alan Woolf, MD, MPH, a pediatrician, toxicologist, co-director of the Centro de Salud Ambiental Pediátrica and director of the Environmental Medicine Program at Children's Hospital Boston.
Why were some toys recalled?
They were recalled for one of two reasons. Some toys were coated in lead paint. Others contained loose magnets.
Why is lead dangerous?
Little by little, it can collect in your child's blood, brain, and bones. At toxic levels, it can affect language, attention and even IQ. These effects may take a long time to appear.
What ages are at risk?
Lead can affect people of all ages, but children aged 6 and younger are especially at risk, in part because their growing bodies absorb more lead.
How would lead get inside my child's body?
Your child can swallow dust or paint chips that contain lead.
Is my child at risk for lead exposure?
Possibly. But if your child has played with a recalled toy, there's no reason to panic. Lead can't be inhaled or absorbed through intact skin. Eating one flake of lead-containing paint isn't harmful.
The concern would be if your child is swallowing a lot of lead over time, which is "not easy to do from these toys," says Shannon. Look out for these scenarios:
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