IMPORTS Lead levels force toy jewelry recall

The jewelry is sold in vending machines across the U.S.
LOS ANGELES TIMES
One of the largest consumer product recalls in U.S. history was issued Thursday as four companies agreed to stop importing toy jewelry from India because they contained toxic levels of lead, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The 150 million pieces of toy rings, necklaces and bracelets recalled were sold through vending machines in malls and discount, department and grocery stores across the United States from January 2002 to last month.
The toy jewelry, sold for 25 to 75 cents, comes in various styles of rings, necklaces and bracelets. The commission is recommending that all the jewelry affected by the recall be thrown away.
Industry officials estimate that there are only 2 million of the recalled pieces of toy jewelry left in vending machines.
Types of jewelry
The rings are gold- or silver-colored with different designs and paint finishes, some with various shaped center stones.
The necklaces have pendants, crosses or various geometrical designs or shapes.
The bracelets include charm bracelets, bracelets with medallion links and bracelets with faux stones.
After testing jewelry samples nationwide over recent months, the commission found that about half contained dangerous amounts of lead that, if mouthed or ingested by children, can cause behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation.
"It's CPSC policy that there should be no accessible lead in a child's product, period," said Ken Giles, a commission spokesman.
So far, there have been no recent reports of children getting lead poisoning from toy jewelry.
In September 2003, a boy in Oregon suffered liver problems after a toy necklace remained for weeks in his stomach, leaching lead into his system, Giles said.