CPSIA and Lead Fact Sheet The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) was signed into law on August 14, 2008. The CPSIA includes the most significant improvements of the Consumer Product Safety Commission since the agency was established in the 1970’s. There is No Known Safe Level of Lead Exposure: • Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can cause permanent, irreversible brain damage and children are especially susceptible to its toxic effects. • A child’s exposure to lead can result in lifelong harms, such as reduced IQ, learning disabilities, aggressive behavior, and serious and long-lasting effects on health and wellbeing. Cumulative lifetime exposure has also been linked to neurotoxicity and cardiovascular effects later in life. • The effects of lead exposure also pose a serious economic burden on American society and are costing us tens of billions of dollars. • The CDC revised their lead guidelines in 2012. Any child with a blood lead level of more than 5 micrograms of lead is considered at risk of lead poisoning. We must do whatever we can to eliminate our children’s exposure to this harmful toxin. Before the CPSIA: • There was no lead limit for children’s products. • There was a limit for lead in the paint and surface coatings of children’s products. It was established in the 1970’s and was set at an unacceptably high 600 ppm. • Millions of children’s products were recalled before passage of the CPSIA, especially in 2007, because they contained excessive levels of lead. These recalls included popular toys with childhood icons such as Thomas the Tank Engine and Elmo. Lead Limits Established by the CPSIA: • Section 101 of the CPSIA establishes the first-ever comprehensive lead limits for children’s products. The new lead limits were phased in over three years to allow manufacturers and retailers sufficient time to comply. • In August 2011, the limit was set at 100 ppm. Any children’s product on the market that does not comply with the new lead standards will be considered a banned hazardous substance. • In August 2011, H.R. 2175, which amended the CPSIA to clarify implementation, was signed into law. It gave CPSC authority to grant exemptions from lead content limits for products that need lead to work properly and that don’t pose a threat to health and safety, as well as exempted some products such as all-terrain vehicles, used products (except children’s jewelry) and most books. The lead limit for bicycles was set at 300 ppm. Recalls of Children’s Products Containing Lead: