Lead in kids/baby books pre-1986?!

[ellathepug]

I heard a tidbit that there is lead in the ink of kids and baby books that were produced pre-1986. Can anyone confirm this? Do I need to throw away Goodnight Moon?

[AngelaS]

According to the new CPSIA law, any item that was made and not tested could POTENTIALLY contain lead. That doesn't mean that all the items created before this year DO.

But, under the new law, all children's items that have not been screened for lead may wind up being considered toxic waste. This is one of the reasons that so many people are opposed to the law--they'd really love to say their children's libraries. And school libraries. And all small businesses that create beautiful, safe things for children but that cannot afford the testing. :(

[vonfirmath]

IF there is lead, it is insignificant, it is not transferable by touching. You'd have to be eating the book to get at it. And how many pages would the kids have to eat to even be noticed?

And, despite all this, the law does not just target the books that are used by the kids that actually do put books in their mouths, but every book aimed at children. And most children do NOT eat their books.

It's like trying to kill a fly with a sledgehammer.

[ett]

There are so many wonderful classic children's books that are out of print and can only be found at the library. It'll be really sad if we can't have access to them anymore.

[AngelaS]

Massive book burnings anyone??

[codex57]

There's lead in basically everything. You can't freak about every time something is discovered to have lead in it. You have to see if it's in a dangerous quantity and how it can get in you.