| The toys and other products that were alleged to | | | | The effects of lead poisoning are severe and |
| have the lead-based paint had been made in China | | | | extensive, especially in children. Lead poisoning can |
| and were being sold by Mattel to families here in | | | | alter brain development, stunt growth, impair the |
| the United States. The company will now pay | | | | nervous system, cause convulsions, create |
| over two millions dollars in fines for knowingly | | | | learning disabilities that did not previously exist, |
| selling the dangerous toys. | | | | and even disrupt a child’s ability to speak. |
| In order to qualify as dangerous and/or hazardous | | | | Pregnant women who are subject to lead |
| to one’s health, paint must be comprised, by | | | | poisoning are also much more likely to have |
| weight, of more than .06 percent lead. Anything | | | | children with cerebral palsy. |
| less than that has been shown to be reasonably | | | | Handling lead, products made of lead, or even |
| safe for both children and adults. Paint comprised | | | | products decorated with lead-based paints can |
| of more than .06 percent lead, however, is illegal | | | | result in severe lead poisoning and all of the |
| for use in and on toys and other products | | | | effects listed previously, among many others not |
| created for children. The Consumer Product | | | | mentioned here. If you incurred lead poisoning |
| Safety Commission (CPSC) determined that in | | | | from products made using illegal, hazardous levels |
| 2007, over twenty-five toy models imported | | | | of lea, you should see a Los Angeles personal |
| from China by Mattel and Fisher Price contained | | | | injury attorney immediately. Unless the |
| dangerously high levels of lead in the paint. All of | | | | manufacturers of these products are recognized |
| these models were recalled immediately by the | | | | and charged for these crimes, toys and other |
| CPSC when it was discovered that they were | | | | products made overseas may continue to arrive |
| dangerous for children. The actual number of toys | | | | here in the United States containing destructive |
| imported by Mattel that were found to have | | | | levels of lead. Without the help of a personal |
| excessive lead levels in the paint reached nearly | | | | injury attorney, you may not be able to legally |
| one million. For Fisher Price, the number was | | | | stand on your own two feet against large |
| closer to 1.2 million toys that had to be recalled. | | | | companies such as Mattel, Fisher Price, and others. |
| Toys, as well as a variety of other products, | | | | A knowledgeable, experienced Los Angeles |
| made in China have come under heavy criticism | | | | defective products lawyer who has experience |
| by parents and many other consumers as a | | | | with product liability cases will be your best |
| result of this incident. Mattel has also been heavily | | | | resource during a court case dealing with lead |
| criticized for purposely allowing such products to | | | | poisoning incurred from unknowingly handling |
| be sold to unknowing and unsuspecting families. | | | | lead-tainted products. |