Asbestos found in children's toys and household items

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has reported finding asbestos in a variety of consumer products, including some children’s toys. After spending $165,000 over 18 months to have three government-certified laboratories test hundreds of products, the asbestos victims’ group has reported that at least two labs found asbestos in powdered cleanser, various “do it youself” and construction products like duct tapes, spackling paste, window glazing and roof sealers, some small appliances imported from China like hot plates and hair rollers, two brands of children’s clay and the very popular children’s toy CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit. “Fingerprinting powder” in the CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit, made in China, contained approximately five percent asbestos fibers. The toy distributor, Planet Toys, said that asbestos testing is not required by the safety regulations that govern toys and had not been performed before on the CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit. CBS, which licenses CSI products, has asked Planet Toys to do independent tests, and both CBS and Planet Toys say that the toy will be removed from the market if confirmed to be unsafe. Two brands of children’s clay, imported from Thailand and China, contained asbestos as well. And asbestos was found in certain types of 3M Scotch duct tape, made in Canada. Some of the products had less than one percent asbestos, which would still be permitted under the current version of the partial asbestos ban that was recently approved by the Senate. Public health experts say that asbestos in any amount is dangerous and that a complete ban on asbestos is needed. ADAO will share its testing results with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.