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Lead Paint Forces Recall of Toy Trains

Parents whose youngsters play with Thomas & Friends wooden trains, take note: Lead in the trains' surface paint has prompted their importer to recall nearly 1.5-million of the popular toys. The importer, RC2 Corp. of Illinois, announced that the toys, manufactured between January 2005 and April 2007, pose a danger to young children, who are likely to chew on the toys and expose themselves to lead. The toys were manufactured in Chinese factories not restricted by a 1978 American ban on lead paint domestically. "The most important thing now is for parents not to delay - this is a serious hazard, " said Scott Wilson, spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which is working with RC2 on the recall. "Parents do need to take the product away from the child." Wilson said his agency works with Chinese manufacturers to encourage them to meet U.S. safety standards for products exported to this country. According to a statement by RC2, no illnesses or injuries have been reported as a result of contact with these toys. Parents in the Tampa Bay area said they were concerned about the potential for exposure to lead paint and other environmental toxins, though many interviewed said their children began playing with the trains after they stopped chewing on their toys. "They have faces, so they're not just a toy, they're more like a person, " said Ulrica Fraley, of Tampa, whose 4-year-old son Wilson played with the toys. Dee Dee Bland, whose 9-month-old son, Robby, is too young still for Thomas trains, said she tries to stay aware of potentially dangerous chemicals found in toys and other household objects. Bland stopped using plastic to store her son's food after reading articles in Child magazine about toxic substances that can leech out of it. Still, she said, it's "probably not enough." About 4 percent of wooden trains sold by RC2 are affected by the recall. Twenty-six different types of Thomas toys are being recalled, most of which have been painted red or yellow. Karen Liller, an expert on child injury at the University of South Florida, said lead can accumulate in a child's nervous system, damaging brain development and potentially causing learning difficulties. "Once that happens, irreversible damage can occur, " she said. She said symptoms of lead exposure can include loss of appetite, sluggishness and vomiting. A simple blood test for lead can be done on children as young as 6 months, and she said parents should contact their pediatrician or their local health department if they are concerned. In the meantime, parents should be open with their children about why they can't play with some of their toys anymore, said Anne Eason, a licensed child psychologist in South Tampa. Children will notice if some of their toys just disappear, and Eason suggests parents make a small ritual of boxing up the Thomas trains to return them to the manufacturer. "These particular trains are almost objects of obsession with some kids, " said Eason, who said her daughters used to love Thomas trains. "Recognize that kids are going to have a grief reaction." Sarah Mishkin can be reached at smishkin@sptimes.com or 813 225 3110. FAST FACTS What parents should do Visit recalls.rc2.com or call 866-725-4407 to get information on returning recalled items for an exchange. Manufacturing codes are located on the bottom of the product. Toys labelled "WJ" or "AZ" are not included in the recall. Concerned parents can call their child's pediatrician and request a blood test for lead.

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