LANSING – State Representative Andy Coulouris (D-Saginaw) today announced that his legislation to protect Michigan's children from toys containing toxic lead is now headed to the full House floor. The legislation was approved Thursday by the Health Policy Committee.
"We live at a time when Thomas the Tank Engine, one of the most trusted symbols of childhood, has instead become a symbol of how far-reaching the threat of lead poisoning continues to be," Coulouris said. "Lead poisoning is 100 percent preventable – yet as the recent recall of 1.5 million Thomas & Friends products shows, we must be vigilant. This legislation will help protect our children."
Last week, a recall was announced for the widely popular Thomas & Friends wooden railway toys because the red and yellow paint used to coat the toys contained lead. In 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 17 children's products – involving 2.6 million units – due to the level of lead the products contained.
Chronic exposure to lead can result in long-term effects such as brain damage, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems, including violent behavior. Acute lead poisoning can be devastating. Acute lead poisoning can be devastating. In 2005, a 4-year-old Minnesota boy died after swallowing a bracelet charm that was later determined to contain 99.1 percent lead.
Michigan has the sixth-highest lead poisoning rate in the country.
Coulouris' legislation would limit the amount of lead that can be applied to children's toys sold in Michigan to 0.06 percent. Currently, there are no state laws that regulate the amount of lead in children's products. The plan establishes civil fines for those who violate these limits, starting with $100 per item. Beginning with the third offense, the fine would be $1,000 per item, up to $50,000. The legislation is part of a three-bill package that also would limit the amount of lead in children's jewelry and lunch boxes.
"It is unacceptable that Michigan remains among the top 10 states for lead poisoning," Coulouris said. "By establishing civil fines, and hitting offenders in the pocketbook, this legislation sends the message that our state will not tolerate companies that care more about their bottom line than about our children's safety."
Coulouris noted efforts to raise awareness about the issue of lead poisoning.
"Though lead poisoning is a national problem, it takes grassroots efforts to work toward solutions," Coulouris said. "I have long admired all the work done by my predecessor, State Representative Carl Williams, to combat this issue. I would also like to thank the Ezekiel Project of Saginaw for raising awareness, locally, of the problem of lead in children's toys."