May 23rd, 2008

When an asbestos advocacy group claimed that independent tests showed high levels of asbestos in a children’s toy, the item was removed from store shelves. But the manufacturer still claims no asbestos has been found.

After an advocacy group came forward with results from independent tests showing that a children’s toy fingerprinting kit contained asbestos, the toy was pulled from stores and the manufacturer started their own testing. After multiple tests, the manufacturer maintains that the fingerprinting kit does not contain asbestos. The same advocacy group is now suing the toy maker, retailers and other parties over the potentially deadly toy. Though the manufacturer’s tests have all come back negative for the asbestos, the toy maker has kept the “stop sale” order in place.

The danger of the toy is that the asbestos is found in fingerprinting dust, a situation where the asbestos is already airborne. Airborne asbestos has been linked to cancers, like mesothelioma, and many types of respiratory illnesses. Mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer, can take years to develop and is usually too far advanced at the time of diagnosis to successfully treat it. The lawsuit is pending, and the toy maker continues to test the toy for asbestos.