SportsPlay Equipment Inc. Playground Equipment Recalled for Dangerous Lead Levels

    KANSAS CITY, MO, July 29, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In April the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall of about 540 SportsPlay Equipment Inc. playgrounds manufactured by Floteks of Turkey because the high levels of lead in paint used on the handrails exceed Federal safety limits. Although no incidents of injury or death have been reported, the potential for ingestion exists should the paint on the handrails begin cracking or flaking.

The CPSC lists the following models, sold between January 2003 and December 2007 in the recall:

Model Name Model Number Part at Issue
Tot Town Fun Center 1 902-813 Red handrails
Tot Town Fun Center 3 902-815 Green handrails
Tot Town Fun Center 5 902-817 Green handrails
Tot Town Fun Center 6 902-818 Red handrails
Tot Town Castle Fun Center 1 902-863 Red handrails
Tot Town Castle Fun Center 3 902-865 Red handrails
Tot Town Castle Fun Center 5 902-867 Red handrails
Tot Town Castle Fun Center 6 902-868 Red handrails
Tea Cup Merry Go Round 902-788 Whole unit
8' Web Climber 902-771 Red poles
Rope Wall 902-772 Red frame
Four Panel Circular Aztec Climber 902-762 Red poles
Four Panel Aztec Climber 902-763 Yellow pole
Three Panel Aztec Climber 902-764 Yellow pole

Lead exposure can cause serious health problems that are difficult to detect as there is no clear method to diagnose lead poisoning. Lead poisoning in children can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, and retard growth. Lead poisoning results in hearing problems, headaches, mental retardation, learning difficulties and behavioral changes. Studies show low levels of lead can affect children's blood pressure and cardiovascular systems. Many experts believe that lead poisoning is among the most important chronic environmental illnesses to affect children. In adults lead can cause nervous system damage, damage reproductive systems and cause cancer.

As a result of so many products imported from China that contained high lead and other contaminant levels, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in 2008 improving the standards and requirements regarding levels of lead. The CPSIA, which went into effect February 10, 2009, also requires independent lead testing in children's toys and products to ensure that they are free of lead.

As of February 10, lead content for children's products sold in the United States is restricted to 600 PPM total lead, and this limit drops to 300 PPM August 14, 2009. The CPSIA also prohibits the sale of recalled products, placing the burden on resellers to know whether a product has been recalled. Some dangerous products will remain on the market because thrift stores and other retailers that sell used or consignment products are not bound by these restrictions.

If you purchased one of these playgrounds, you should have been contacted by the manufacturer to receive free replacement parts. For more information about these playground recalls please visit the website of Schlichter, Bogard & Denton.

Source: Schlichter, Bogard & Denton
Website: http://www.druginjuryinformation.com

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