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Thomas and Friends, Curious George toys recalled for unsafe lead content

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 | 03:20 PM ET

About 66,000 spinning tops and 4,700 tin pails featuring Thomas and Friends and Curious George characters are being recalled from the marketplace because they contain high levels of lead, the U.S. Consumer Safety Product Commission said Wednesday.

The CPSC said surface paint on the toys, imported by Massachusetts-based Schylling Associates Inc., exceeds U.S. standards.

A company spokesman was not immediately available to say if the toys were sold in Canada. Schylling's president, Jack Schylling, said the company has never knowingly sold any toys known to have contained lead paint.

"We are committed to producing the best quality products, and we regret that some toy tops manufactured between 2001 and 2002 may contain lead-based paint and were distributed without our knowledge," said Schylling in a release issued Wednesday.

"At all times, we believed the processes we had in place were appropriate to maintain the quality and safety of our products."

The toys were sold in the U.S. from July 2001 through July 2002. The pails sold for about $6 US while the tops were priced at about $13 US.

Three other products recalled for high lead levels

Separately, the CPSC issued three other recalls of products found to contain unsafe lead levels.

Ohio-based Martin Designs Inc. announced it was pulling about 250,000 SpongeBob SquarePants journals and address books found to contain excessive levels of lead on its metal spiral bindings. The books were sold in the U.S. from June 2006 through July 2 for about $2 US.

Buy-Rite Designs Inc., based in New Jersey, also announced a recall of 7,900 charm bracelets. The bracelets were sold in dollar stores and other small retailers in the U.S. from March 2004 through August 2007 for about $1.

TOBY N.Y.C. said 14,000 of its TOBY & ME metal jewelry sets were also found to contain high levels of lead. The products were sold at T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and A.J. Wright stores between August 2006 and May 2007 for about $8 US.

No incidents or injuries associated with the affected products have been reported.

Children absorb lead more easily than adults and are more vulnerable to poisoning. Exposure to high levels of lead can cause vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma or death. Symptoms include anemia, appetite loss, abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue, sleeplessness, irritability and headaches.

CPSC recall notice: Schylling Associates

CSPC recall notice: Martin Designs Inc.

CPSC recall notice: Buy-Rite Designs

CPSC recall notice: TOBY N.Y.C.

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