Blog Post

Important Facts about Lead in the Wake of the Mattel Toy Recall


August 15, 2007
Topic: Products Liability

Because of its high malleability, abundance, and resistance to corrosion, lead was one of the first and most popular metals humans worked with. Unfortunately, its high toxicity was not discovered for millennia because the symptoms of lead poisoning are not immediate or obvious. When the US banned the use of lead paint in 1978, many thought that the risk of lead poisoning in this country was over. But the recent recalls of millions of children's toys and products from El Segundo, California based Mattel, Inc. and other companies have again raised concerns about this once commonly used metal.

Lead is toxic to humans because the metal mimics other, important, metals in the body. Proteins and molecules can bind with lead that enters the bloodstream instead of metals that are natural to the body such as calcium, iron or zinc. After the molecules are displaced from lead, they function irregularly and may fail to produce certain enzymes vital to the central nervous system.

Anyone can suffer from lead poisoning, but since children grow so rapidly and are still developing their neurological functions, they often suffer the worst effects. Because lead has to be ingested to have serious effects, children are especially vulnerable. They commonly put their hands or objects (such as toys with lead paint) in their mouths. Children also simply soak up more toxic material than adults. A growing child's body can absorb up to 50% of lead they ingest, while a developed adult's body usually only absorbs 10%.

A large majority of lead poisoning cases come from lead paint. Although lead paint has been banned in the US for decades, the Department of Housing and Urban Development reports that lead paint is still found in about 38 million homes in the US. However, toxic lead can come from other sources as well, such as construction sites, ceramic pottery, and old lead pipes.

Children who are consistently exposed to lead paint may end up suffering from lower IQ, learning disabilities, or behavior problems. Extreme cases of lead poisoning may cause staggering gait, muscle weakness, seizures, or coma.

The best way to avoid lead poisioning is to simply elimate all traces of lead from your home. If you want to check to see if your walls, children's toys, jewlrey or pottery contain lead paint, you can purchase a lead check kit from your local hardware store. These kits are easy to use and can detect the presence of lead in almost any household item, but can't check the level.

If you feel you or your children have suffered serious injury from lead poisoning exposure, don't hesitate to call the experienced personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group.


The California personal injury attorneys at The Reeves Law Group represent victims of accidents, injuries and wrongful death throughout California from our offices in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Fresno County, Kern County, Sacramento County, San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Antelope Valley, Torrance, Glendale, Bakersfield, Santa Ana, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Ontario, and Victorville.