Libraries Not Worried About Lead-Containing Books

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Worries over lead poisoning have sent numerous toys to the recall list and is the reason behind a new federal law.

The law went into effect last month and bans products geared towards children that have even small amounts of lead.

One federal agency said that law includes children's books, meaning libraries could be affected.

Books made before 1986 were printed before federal regulations removed lead from ink, which is why the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, said some children's library books may be risky.

Lead experts and librarians said there is no need to worry.

Children's books don't have a long life span in a library. They obviously get a lot of wear and tear.

"Some books last three months, some books last a month," said Kim Terry of the Metroplitan Library System.

The books in question would have to be at least 24-years-old.

"We have about 600 books in the system that are from 1986 and older," Terry said.

Half of the vintage books are locked away in an archive room that children cannot access, but even the ones in circulation, experts said the risk for sickening kids is basically zero.

"They'd have to eat it, they'd have to eat the book because the ink is so glued to the page," said Margaret Phillips of OU Health Sciences.

Because the books in question are geared towards older kids, that's not likely to happen.

Librarians don't know why the CPSC is suggesting they "should take steps to ensure that the children aren't accessing those books" until further notice.

"We're looking into pulling the books as of right now. We're doing research on where the books are, how many locations have the books and we're pulling the list," Terry said.

Libraries don't have to do anything yet since quarantining books is only a suggestion at this point. The CPSC still has to study lead content in the books and that's been delayed a year.

Although experts aren't worried about the library books, they said parents should keep aware of bigger lead risks, like lead based paint and pottery.