Nationwide ‘Toy Story’ gone wrong

The toy recall sweeping the nation has left Bloomington citizens concerned for the safety of their children.\nOver the summer, Mattel recalled more than 19 million toys made in China that either contained high levels of lead in the exterior paint or contained magnets small enough for toddlers to swallow. Among these items were Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street characters.\nBloomington toy retailers said they’ve had concerned customers call and question the companies regarding the safety of their \nchildren.\n“We have had a lot of parents and teachers come in and ask if we carry the contaminated items,” said Cheryl Wells, store manager of Bloomington’s Banana Junction. “I tell them that we don’t carry any Mattel items and our products imported from China all meet the international standards set by the government.”\nThe maximum level of lead allowed in paint used on toys is 0.06 percent. \nMajor retailers like Wal-Mart and Target have been more drastically affected than local stores. In an Aug. 14 press release from Wal-Mart, the company assured consumers that they no longer carried the majority of the high lead content from the suppliers, and if the recalled products were returned, consumers could still receive a full refund on the toy. \nThe threat of lead poisoning in children who use the toys was the primary cause of the recall. If ingested by young children, lead causes a variety of growth, hearing, learning and behavioral problems. \n“The effects of the poisoning depend on the amount of lead children consume,” said Dr. James Mowry of the Indiana Poison Center. “Most of the time the symptoms of lead exposure are nonspecific and often have no immediate signs. Large doses of lead consumption can be fatal.”\nMowry said the center has gotten few calls on the toy recall subject, but he told the callers that in small doses, lead is not fatal.\nDay care centers on campus were proactive in the recall process, calming the concerns of parents with children who could unknowingly be exposed at places away from home.\n“As recalls happen, we are posting them to the families who use our services,” said Christy Smith, director of the Campus Children’s Center. “We send them out electronically.”\nSmith said the Campus Children’s Center is forced to follow its protocol because it is licensed by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. \nLead-tainted toys are still on the market, and parents are exercising caution when it comes to their children.\n“I wouldn’t sell anything that I don’t let my children play with,” Wells said.