Is your child dressing like a pirate this Halloween? Be careful: Today Health reports that 1,400 Chinese-made pirate costumes have been seized for containing lead levels 11 times the permitted maximum.
The costumes were headed for Seattle, and the shipment was chosen for inspection as the importer had previously violated US laws.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission tested the costumes and concluded they were dangerous, especially if a child placed any part of the costume in their mouths (as some kids are wont to do).
KCEN TV reports that two shipments of costumes were seized, and that the eye-patch component of the costume was "full of lead."
Read more from GlobalPost: Lead poisoning threshold reduced by CDC
Lead poisoning can be extremely damaging to young children, and prolonged exposure can cause reduced IQ, slow growth, behavioral problems, and kidney damage, among other worrying symptoms.
Earlier this year, the federal government reduced the lead poisoning threshold in children. Children will now be carefully medically monitored if their blood contains 5 micrograms per deciliter of lead, down from 10 micrograms in previous recommendations.
Unfortunately, Chinese imports have in recent years become known for containing high levels of lead, melamine, and other harmful chemicals that are strictly regulated in the US and most other Western nations.
The story you just read is accessible and free to all because thousands of listeners and readers contribute to our nonprofit newsroom. We go deep to bring you the human-centered international reporting that you know you can trust. To do this work and to do it well, we rely on the support of our listeners. If you appreciated our coverage this year, if there was a story that made you pause or a song that moved you, would you consider making a gift to sustain our work through 2024 and beyond?