Subject:
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Re: Weren't we all expecting this??
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.general
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Date:
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Sun, 21 Oct 2007 18:32:16 GMT
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Reply-To:
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cjmasi@*(stopspam)nogarbageplease*verizon.net
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Viewed:
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3868 times
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Cedar Sith wrote:
> In someways I knew this would happen and I have been expecting this day.
>
> Hopefully, it means the downfall of MegaBloks forever!
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/business/worldbusiness/19safety.html?_r=3&ref=business&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
>
> --Brian
Actually, that is an interesting article about a controversial article.
The test that the magazine had done involved scratching off the plastic,
heating plastic in a solution of nitric acid (this is a typical way a
lab tests for lead in paint or soil, for example) and then testing for
lead presumably with any one of a variety of analytical instruments.
This test will certainly determine whether there is lead in the sample.
The position that MegaBloks maintains is that their toys are safe (in
other words, they conform to the law). According to the article, the
legal requirement is a "migration test" where the toy is soaked in
acetic acid (the acid in vinegar, which is much weaker than nitric acid)
for a while (the length of time is probably set by statute) and the
vinegar solution is tested for lead. This is a much less stringent test,
and is a reasonable test to perform on a brand new toy. If the lead
doesn't leach out of the new toy, then it should be safe for a child who
is mouthing the toy. This of course assumes two things. First, the
plastic is not scratched off by a toothing child. Second, the plastic
doesn't break down with time.
If a child can scratch off the plastic with his or her teeth or if
plastic degrades the lead can be released. The observation that plastic
degrades is exactly why there was a big deal made about inexpensive
blinds a few years back (many of which still contain lead). As the
plastic in the blinds breaks down, a powdery plastic dust forms. If the
plastic in the blinds contains lead, the plastic dust released by the
break down of the plastic also contains lead. I'm making no claims about
the safety of MegaBloks, but if a plastic breaks down and that plastic
contains lead, the lead will be released. If the plastic doesn't break
down, then the lead should stay reasonably well locked up in the plastic.
Personally, I'd prefer that my plastic toys not have any lead in them,
but apparently my government and the Canadian government don't feel the
same way.
Chris
--
http://mysite.verizon.net/cjmasi/lego/
Learn about brittle bone disease
http://www.oif.org/
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