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Lead in toys causing issues for Marines

December 6, 2007

Lead in toys is not only an issue for parents this holiday season, it's also an obstacle for the United States Marine Corps.

Through its Toys for Tots program, the Marine Corps distributed more than 19 million toys last year, and is on track to do the same this year. Yesterday, all 600 program coordinators around the country received an e-mail detailing the high lead toys found by the Ecology Center report.

Bill Grein, Toys for Tot's vice president of marketing, said the retired and active duty Marines and their families who do the bulk of the collection and distribution of toys will check each item that comes in to make sure it is not on the lead list.

"We don't want hysteria to take over," Grein said. "We don't want our donors to think that since they can't buy a safe toy they shouldn't buy any toy at all."

Justin Rocket Silverman