Screening for Lead in Toys

Lead is used primarily in two aspects of toy manufacturing: Paint and Plastic. While the use of lead in paintin products marketed for children was banned in the United States in 1978, it is still widely used in other countries and can be found on imported toys. The use of lead in plastics has not been banned. It softens plastics.

AQS technicians using a Niton XL3t 700 series XRF analyzer can test toys for lead content in both the paint and plastic. Small-scale testing (testing of an individual toy) is cost prohibitive. In order to be cost effective it is necessary to screen toys on a larger scale (moderate sized company or organization).

Recently, a number of articles have appeared in the media regarding the presence of lead in toys manufactured outside the United States.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/01/toy.recall.ap/index.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/16/eveningnews/main661577.shtml
http://www.usatoday.com/money/world/2007-08-13-china-products_N.htm