A Baltimore City regulation prohibiting the sale of lead-laced children?s jewelry will take effect this September.
The Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning held a meeting Wednesday applauding a Baltimore City Health Department regulation that bans children?s jewelry containing more than 600 parts per million of lead and to address questions about the regulation. The also touted a package of lead regulations they intend to introduce in the Maryland General Assembly later this spring.
In Baltimore, Claire?s Accessories banned the sale of lead-based products after the city health commission announced they tested high for lead content, said Ruth-Ann Norton, director of the coalition. They did not ban the items nationwide.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is considering similar regulations, said Kris Haltelid, toxicologist with the commission.
“Cases of lead poisoning are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and the CPSC doesn?t test for the presence of lead in all products but rather for lead in products that will likely have contact with the public,” she said.
Products like road paint, paint on the back of bathroom mirrors and automotive paints on a federal level are required bear warning labels. Young children, however, can?t read labels, Haltelid said.
“Well, what can parents look for?” Ruth Norton, executive director of the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, asked in response.
There is no definitive way to determine a product?s lead content without testing, Haltelid said.
