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Post by Mary on Dec 25, 2006 20:04:29 GMT -5
Pediatrics journal article on death of Minneapolis boy from lead poisoning, and newspaper article on same. Submitted by: David Wallinga, MD, MPA Director, Food and Health Program Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy 2105 First Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55404 dwallinga@iatp.org 612-870-3418 www.iatp.org/foodandhealth --------------------------------- pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/118/6/2548pediatrics.aappublications.org/>pediatrics.aappublications.org/misc/mypediatrics.shtml>pediatrics.aappublications.org/misc/journal_info.shtml>pediatrics.aappublications.org/current.shtml>pediatrics.aappublications.org/contents-by-date.0.dtl>pediatrics.aappublications.org/misc/services.shtml>pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/feedback>PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 6 December 2006, pp. 2548-2551 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1733) ________________________________ EXPERIENCE & REASON Acute Brain Herniation From Lead Toxicity Sheldon Berkowitz, MD, FAAPa and Rod Tarrago, MDb a Minneapolis Children's Clinic b Children's Respiratory and Critical Care Specialists, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota ABSTRACT A 4-year-old black boy was admitted to the hospital with vomiting, low-grade fever, and dehydration that were thought to be caused by viral gastroenteritis. He proceeded over the next 12 hours to rapidly deteriorate with brain herniation leading to brain death. The ultimate cause of death was found to be acute lead intoxication from a swallowed foreign body. Accepted Aug 14, 2006. www.aap.org/>(c) 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/16157411.htmwww.twincities.com/mld/twincities/16157411.htm> Mon, Dec. 04, 2006 www.reprintbuyer.com/mags/knightridder/reprints.html> Doctors learn from subtle lead poisoning Pediatrician says tests have increased since boy's death BY JEREMY OLSON Pioneer Press When doctors discovered a heart-shape metal charm in a 4-year-old's stomach, it was already too late. Jarnell Brown, of Minneapolis, died of lead poisoning a few days later at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. While his doctors believe earlier detection was unlikely given his atypical symptoms, they hope to teach other doctors and public health officials to detect lead poisoning and prevent future tragedies. A history of Jarnell's treatment and his Feb. 22 death was published in the December edition of the medical journal Pediatrics. "Think lead," said Dr. Sheldon Berkowitz, medical director of the clinic at Children's Hospital and Jarnell's primary pediatrician. "Keep it in your mind, because it can present itself in so many different ways." Jarnell was taken twice in four days to the Children's emergency room. Nobody knew he had swallowed the metal charm, which the family received as a promotional gift for buying Reebok shoes. The first time, on Feb. 15, he was fatigued and vomiting, and he was sent home with an anti-nausea drug and fluids. The second time, on Feb. 18, he was admitted to the hospital. What confounded doctors initially was that Jarnell was vomiting but also running a fever, which usually suggests a bacterial or viral infection. Lead poisoning often causes impaired thinking, but Jarnell showed no change in behavior at first. Jarnell also had received a routine lead test weeks earlier - before he swallowed the charm - and it hadn't shown any problems. It wasn't until the morning after his hospital admission, when Jarnell awoke seeming confused and bit his mother, that doctors realized he had the kind of neurological problems that can be linked to lead poisoning. He lost consciousness before an imaging scan confirmed dangerous levels of swelling and pressure in his brain, and an X-ray found a heart-shape object in his abdomen. ....Berkowitz said he talked with Jarnell's mother, Juanna, who supported the Pediatrics article and hoped it would encourage greater safety and treatment. Jeremy Olson can be reached at jolson@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5583. Children's Environmental Health Network Community Listserv The content of listserv postings are the responsibility of individual authors and do not indicate the Children's Environmental Health Network's support or endorsement. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Post by Mary on Dec 25, 2006 20:08:14 GMT -5
NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 4, 2006 Release #07-042 Firm's Recall Hotline: (888) 484-3444 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 Children's Necklaces Recalled Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Children's Mood Necklaces and Diva Necklaces Units: About 51,600 necklaces Importer: Really Useful Products Inc., of Darien, Ill. Hazard: The recalled jewelry contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. Incidents/Injuries: None reported. Description: The recalled Mood Necklaces are multi-colored pendants shaped as hearts, moons, shamrocks, spiders, butterflies and lizards that hang from a black chord. The packaging is a black cardboard wrapped in plastic with "Mood Necklace" printed on the front and "Item # JW41001" and "UPC number 898846410011" printed on a sticker on the back. The recalled Diva Necklaces consist of pendants shaped as the words "ANGEL" or "Diva" that hang from a black chord. The packaging is pink cardboard with "Hand Painted" and "Diva Necklace" printed on the front,and "Item # 21800020" and "UPC number 898846200186" printed on the back. Sold by: Children's, dollar, and discount stores nationwide from September 2004 through November 2006 for about $1. Manufactured in: China Remedy: Consumers should immediately take this jewelry away from children. Consumers should return the recalled jewelry to the store where purchased for a full refund or contact Really Useful Products for information on how to receive a full refund. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Really Useful Products toll-free at (888) 484-3444 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.ruproducts.comTo see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07042.html******************************************************** The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals -contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
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Post by Mary on Dec 25, 2006 20:45:34 GMT -5
Advisory
2006-128 December 14, 2006 For immediate release Parents and caregivers advised to exercise caution in holiday purchases of children's jewellery
OTTAWA - Health Canada reminds parents and caregivers who may be purchasing children’s jewellery over the holiday season to make sure that the jewellery does not contain dangerous and illegal levels of lead. Wearing jewellery items made of lead does not create any health risks, but serious lead poisoning can occur if children chew, suck or swallow jewellery or other items containing lead.
Children’s jewellery items containing lead are not only dangerous, they can also be illegal. Under the Children’s Jewellery Regulations, which came into effect on June 1, 2005, the import, advertisement or sale in Canada of jewellery intended for children under 15 years of age is permitted only if the jewellery contains no more than 600 mg/kg of total lead and no more than 90 mg/kg of migratable lead.
Pure lead is a heavy, soft, metal which is dark bluish-grey in colour and has a dull finish. Jewellery with a very high lead content may have a thicker body and may not have as delicate a shape or design as jewellery made from a stronger metal. Items with a high concentration of lead often leave a greyish mark when rubbed against a piece of white paper, but this is not always the case. Some components of a jewellery item may be made without lead, while other components of the same item may contain high levels of lead. It can be difficult to know just from looking at a piece of jewellery whether it contains lead, since many jewellery items have a protective or decorative coating or plating. The coatings do not protect from lead exposure; when the item is sucked or chewed, or undergoes normal wear and tear, the coating wears off and the underlying lead is exposed.
Lead builds up in the body, and medical research has shown that absorption of even very low levels of lead into the blood may have harmful health effects on the intellectual and behavioural development of infants and young children. Short-term exposure to high levels of lead can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, appetite loss, abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue, sleeplessness, irritability and headaches. Exposure to very high lead levels can result in coma and death. Although lead is most harmful to children, it also causes health problems in adults.
Lead is inexpensive and jewellery items made from it are generally low-end, novelty items. When buying children’s costume jewellery, it is advisable to check with the retailer to make sure the jewellery does not contain lead. If the retailer cannot provide assurances that the item is lead-free, it is strongly advised not to buy the product.
Additional information on consumer safety during the holiday season is available through the following links:
* children’s sleepwear * holiday safety * toy safety * toys with small magnets * lead jewellery
For further information, consumers can contact the Health Canada Product Safety office nearest them, by calling 1-866-662-0666 toll-free, or e-mailing cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca (If contacting via e-mail, please indicate the province or territory from which you are corresponding).
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Post by Mary on Dec 25, 2006 20:56:31 GMT -5
Home > About Health Canada > Media Room > Advisories, Warnings & Recalls > 2006 Advisory
2006-13 March 29, 2006 For immediate release Health Canada advises Canadians of high lead levels in children's Reebok charm bracelet
OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising the Canadian public that a children's metal charm bracelet which was provided as a free gift with children's Reebok shoes, has been recalled due to high lead levels. These bracelets should be removed immediately from children's reach and disposed of in normal household waste in a manner which is no longer accessible to children.
The heart-shaped charm on the bracelet may contain a very high level of lead and pose a risk of lead poisoning to children if sucked, chewed or swallowed. One of the charms has been linked to the death from lead poisoning of a four-year-old Minnesota boy, on February 22, 2006 who had ingested one of the charms.
Reebok International is recalling about 300,000 of the bracelets, which were manufactured in China, from stores in the United States and Canada. Approximately 6140 bracelets were distributed in Canada. Health Canada inspectors will follow up with the affected stores in Canada to make sure that all the bracelets have been removed from sale. The shoes in question were sold at major shoe stores between May 2004 and March 2006.
The bracelet is an 8 inch long chain link bracelet. It is silver in colour and has a heart-shaped charm attached to the chain. The name "Reebok" is engraved on one side of the charm. The charm bracelet was distributed with various styles of children's Reebok footwear.
Small clickable image of a Reebox bracelet, as per mentioned in this advisory Click on image to view in larger format
If a child has been observed sucking or chewing on the charm, and you suspect that lead poisoning may have occurred, contact your family physician who can order a simple blood test to measure the child's blood lead level. If you notice or suspect that a child has swallowed a leaded item, contact your local poison control centre immediately.
There is no lead exposure risk associated with wearing the bracelet, but because the health risks associated with mouthing or swallowing the bracelet or the charm are very serious, no child should have access to the bracelet. To date, Health Canada has not received any reports of lead poisoning incidents in Canada associated with the bracelet.
For further information, consumers can contact the Health Canada Product Safety office nearest them, by calling 1-866-662-0666 toll-free, or e-mail cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca (if contacting via e-mail, please indicate the province or territory from which you are corresponding).
The import, advertisement or sale in Canada of jewellery intended for children under 15 years of age is illegal under the Children's Jewellery Regulations, which came into effect on June 1, 2005, unless the jewellery contains not more than 600 mg/kg of total lead and not more than 90 mg/kg of migratable lead, when tested in accordance with good laboratory practices.
For more information regarding the risks of lead exposure, visit It's Your Health - Effects of Lead on Human Health.
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Post by Mary on Dec 25, 2006 20:59:03 GMT -5
Advisory
2005-136 December 22, 2005 For immediate release High lead levels in children's necklaces and zipper pulls
OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising the Canadian public that children's metal necklaces and zipper pulls manufactured by Stravina Operating Company of California have been recalled. The items, sold between March 2002 and September 2005, pose a risk of lead poisoning to children if mouthed or swallowed and should be removed from children's reach.
Stravina Operating Company is recalling about six million items, which are manufactured in China. Approximately 781,000 of the recalled items were sold in Canada at discount, toy, party, grocery and drug stores for between $2 and $5. These items are no longer being sold in Canada.
The recalled necklaces are silver-coloured with individual names painted in a variety of colours. The nameplate on the necklace hangs from a 40 cm black cord. The necklace packages are marked "Personalized Necklace" and "Stravina." UPC Code 0-35203-00039-7 is on the necklace package.
The recalled zipper pulls are also silver-coloured with individual names and come in various colours. The zipper pull hangs from a silver-coloured metal clip designed to attach to a backpack, keyring, or clothing zipper. The words "Personalized Zipper Pull," "Great for Backpacks and Keyrings too" and "Stravina" are printed on the packaging, as is the UPC Code 0-35203-00038.
Due to various substances used to create different colours of enamels, some items are affected by this recall, while others are not. Pictures of the items and specific descriptions of the affected items can be found at the bottom of this advisory.
The items affected by this recall can be disposed of in regular household waste, or consumers may contact Stravina at 1-800-964-0029 for a free replacement product.
There is no lead exposure risk associated with normal use of these items; however, children sometimes mouth objects of this nature and contact with saliva can cause lead to leach from the jewellery into a child's body. To date, Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or injuries from use of the products.
For more information regarding the risks of lead exposure, visit:
* Effects of Lead on Human Health
Description of Recalled Necklaces
* The necklace has a black cord and a spring coil on each side of the name * The following colours apply to the recall: Black, Multi (pink/green/yellow/, etc.), Light Blue Glitter and Dark Pink Glitter * The following colours do not apply to the recall: Dark Purple or Pink with silver flower charm
Description of Recalled Zipper Pulls
* If the letters are staggered or slanted at angles, the following colours apply to the recall: Light Blue, Black, Pink, Green, Multi (Black/Purple/White or Black/Blue/White). * If the letters are in a straight column, the recall does not apply. * The following colours do not apply regardless of alignment: Red, Dark Blue, Purple Glitter, Pink Glitter, and Black Glitter.
For further information, consumers can contact the Health Canada Product Safety office nearest them, by calling 1-866-662-0666 toll-free, or e-mail cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca (if contacting via e-mail, please indicate the province or territory from which you are corresponding). Stravina - Personalized Zipper Pull Stravina - Personalized Necklace
I've seen these sold at Walmart
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More lead necklace recalls
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Post by More lead necklace recalls on Jan 3, 2007 17:25:31 GMT -5
Children's necklaces, key chains recalled for lead poisoning risk Last Updated: Wednesday, January 3, 2007 | 10:03 AM ET CBC News Four children's metal pendant necklaces and key chains sold at jewelry stores Claire's and Ardène are being recalled because they could make children ill from lead poisoning, Health Canada said in an advisory notice Wednesday. The federal agency warned that if children sucked, chewed or swallowed any of the products, they could suffer serious or fatal lead poisoning. The recall involves: a monkey pendant necklace, a cat pendant necklace, a cherry bud pendant necklace and a key chain. The monkey pendant necklace, measuring 40 cm long, was sold at Claire's stores for $6.99 each from July through December 2006. The "kitty" pendant necklace measures 80 cm long. The pendant of a black cat bears the word "kitty" above the cat's head. The product was sold at Ardène stores for $8.99 from February through December 2006. The cherry bud pendant was sold with a chain measuring 80 cm long. One of the cherries is imprinted with the word "Buds." These necklaces were sold at Ardène stores between February and December 2006 for $8.99. A blue glass flower hangs off the key chain involved in the recall. A metal bar above the flower reads "Best." These key chains were sold at Ardène stores between June and December 2006 for $5.99. Return products for refund The products should be taken away from children and returned to the store for a refund. Children absorb lead more easily than adults and are therefore more vulnerable to poisoning. Exposure to high levels of lead can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma or death. Symptoms include anemia, appetite loss, abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue, sleeplessness, irritability and headache. In December, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously to move forward in a process that could ultimately produce a ban on children's jewelry containing more than 0.06 per cent lead by weight. Under current Health Canada regulations, paints and enamels on children's products may not contain more than 0.5 per cent lead by weight. For more information, consumers can contact the Health Canada Product Safety office toll-free at 1-866-662-0666. www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/01/03/necklace-advisory.html
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