REESE - State Representative Terry Brown (D-Pigeon) will hold a town hall meeting on Sept. 22 to inform residents about the dangers of lead and other toxic chemicals in children's toys and offer free testing of toys that families have at home to see if they are safe.
"With the many recalls of very common toys over the past year or so, we're more aware that what's in our homes can actually be a danger to our kids," said Brown, a longtime educator who worked with students with severe disabilities before becoming a State Representative. "Lead poisoning leads to learning disabilities, brain damage and even death. This is a great opportunity to learn more about how to keep your kids from handling toys that can hurt their health and safety."
The town hall meeting will take place on Monday, Sept. 22, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Reese Fire Hall, 1955 River St. in Reese. The tests will detect toxins including lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and PVCs (polyvinyl chlorides). A representative of the Michigan Department of Community Health will also present information on lead paint, another danger lurking in homes.
Families can bring children's toys and jewelry to the event to be tested with an XRF analyzer, a portable device designed to test for metal and other contaminants. An expert from the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor will test the toys and discuss the growing problem of dangerous toys and share tips on what can be done to keep children safe.
Mass recalls have included Fisher-Price brand toys featuring characters like Elmo, Big Bird and Dora the Explorer; "Sarge" products from the Pixar movie "Cars"; GeoTrax components; Barbie accessories; and Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway toys and parts.
"I encourage everyone to come to this town hall and take advantage of this free toy-testing service," Brown said. "Now is the perfect time to get rid of the problem toys in your home and learn about safe toys to buy for children and grandchildren during the holiday season."