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MomsRising has been on the forefront of the effort to remove lead from kids' toys. Read the MomsRising petition to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Following the latest Mattel/Fisher Price recall this issue is really heating up.

How ironic is it that lead paint is banned, but the toys themselves can be made of lead?

Today's episode of the Diane Rehm Show covered this issue in admirable depth. This show is an absolute must-listen and is available free online from WAMU radio's site, or as a free podcast from iTunes.

Diane and her guests talked about the current toy situation and the fact that the CPSC has been stripped of power lately due to its lack of a quorum. They then delved into the science of lead poisoning and research that shows a strong correlation between levels of lead exposure and the crime rate rising and falling over time. 23 years after lead exposure levels dropped, crime dropped as well. This link is being verified in many time periods and locations worldwide. The far-reaching effects of lead toxicity are still being uncovered. This is an issue we all need to know about, and insist that our political leaders take seriously.


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