State department testing for lead in toys

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

Recalled toys containing lead may be off store shelves, but what about the toys in your child's room or under the Christmas tree?

The Oklahoma State Department of Health held a free lead testing today at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Parents and grandparents brought in toys and other items from around the house, most walked away relieved, while others were stunned.

Mary Alexander wants to make sure her four month old wasn't chewing on something dangerous. 

The growing list of recalled toys containing lead and made in China has parents testing everything from board games to stuffed animals.

Lead tester Neil Brown said the tools for testing lead are highly accurate.

"It essentially is x-raying the toy and it will look through the paint actually look into the plastic," Brown said. "It detects lead in parts per million."

It lights up red when lead is detected.  A plastic toy ring had some shocking results with 2,700 parts of lead per million--far above the recall level. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, toys or objects containing 600 parts per million or more is considered at recall level.

Lead based paint, which was commonly used in older homes, is dangerous. The results from a paint chips tested were eye-opening. A paint chip contained over 100,000 parts per million.