McGraw
CHARLESTON – Attorney General Darrell McGraw says free testing of children's toys and jewelry for excessive amounts of lead will be availabe at the State Fair.
Testing will be conducted at the West Virginia State Fair in Lewisburg on from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 11. It will be performed at the West Virginia Attorney General's booth in conjunction with Astar Abatement Inc. of Charleston.
The first of the testing sites was the Morgan County Fair in Berkley Springs.
Lead is toxic if ingested and its ingestion can cause serious health problems such as reduced mental ability and behavioral problems. Children six years of age and younger are particularly susceptible to the harmful effects of lead poisoning.
Lists of toys and jewelry recalled due to lead content may be found at the following Web sites:
* www.wvago.gov
* www.wvdhhr.org/rtia/lead.asp
* www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html
McGraw cautions that these lists contain only those items which have already been found to contain lead and other items are "undoubtedly out there."
McGraw also stated that his office is exploring more sites and may have testing entities in addition to Astar Abateman Inc. and the West Virginia Division for Public Health.