More trouble in the skies over airplane maintenance

For airline passengers stuck because of hundreds of flights canceled over immediate safety inspections, it may seem like a problem that came straight out of the blue.

It most certainly is not.

The recent airline mini-crisis is linked to a potential safety problem we highlighted a year ago, in a March 2007 investigation. That report detailed how the Federal Aviation Administration has changed the way it oversees aircraft maintenance and inspections, leaving it more to air carriers themselves than to FAA inspectors on the ground. 

Recent moves to re-inspect hundreds of planes at Southwest Airlines, American Airlines and Delta have caused hundreds of flights to be canceled in recent days as the planes go through re-inspection for things such as fatigue cracks and wiring. And the moves have put the issue of airline safety front and center once more.

On March 6, the FAA announced a record $10.2 million penalty against Southwest for "operating 46 airplanes without performing mandatory inspections for fuselage fatigue cracking." Subsequent investigations found that six of the 46 airplanes had fatigue cracks, a potentially catastrophic circumstance.

Less than a week later, the FAA announced a review of Southwest's maintenance practices, even as the carrier was grounding 41 aircraft to verify they had "correctly followed inspection guidance." The Dallas-based airline issued a statement noting it had "discovered an ambiguity related to required testing." American Airlines and Delta this past week together inspected more than 400 airplanes and canceled over 700 flights.

In the wake of media attention, it became clear the issue of maintenance oversight was as much about the FAA itself as any one airline. On March 18, acting Federal Aviation Administrator Robert Sturgell ordered aviation inspectors to "reconfirm" that airlines operating within the U.S. have complied with all airworthiness directives.

Recent report shows the downside of escalators

In college, whenever I rode an escalator with one of my best friends, Peggy, she would tell me about how she had been injured on an escalator when she was a little girl. I would always grasp the handrail tighter after hearing her tale.

I’ve lost touch with Peggy, but I still remember her cautionary words whenever I ride an escalator. Now, a recent report suggests that all of us aging baby boomers (and especially women) should do the same.

A study of emergency-room data (ironically conducted by the Department of Pediatrics at Indiana University’s Riley Hospital for Children) shows that the rate of escalator-related injuries among older adults, 65 and up, more than doubled between 1991 and 2005, from 4.9 to 11 per 100,000 riders. Annually, the older population requires an average 2,660 emergency room visits for escalator-related injuries, compared to about 2,000 for children.

Among the elderly, women have more than twice as many injuries as men and the rate of injury increases with age. The major cause of the injuries: a slip, trip or fall. Almost 14 percent of the incidents occurred while people were stepping on or off the escalator, 6 percent when people reported misstepping or losing their balance and 3 percent when clothes, shoes, bags or body parts got caught in the escalator. Injuries due to walking up or down the moving escalator were rarely reported in this study although the authors note that in another study, 60 percent of the escalator-related injuries were caused by a person walking or moving. (In that study, however, there were very few adults 70 or older). 

One of the study’s authors, Joseph O’Neil M.D., says it’s unclear why the injury rate has escalated so sharply in 14 years—whether there are more escalators, more seniors, or both. “My suspicion is that we have more older adults who treasure their independence and are more active in the community," he says. "So there’s a greater risk of exposure and with that greater risk of exposure comes a greater risk of injury.”

The study urges greater public awareness of the risks to older adults riding the escalators, especially when stepping on or off. To minimize the risks, older adults should also avoid walking up or down a moving escalator, carrying large objects, or wearing loose shoes or garments while riding. For those who have difficulty walking or maintaining balance, an elevator is a far better choice.

I think my friend Peggy would agree with that. —Caroline Mayer

After motorcycle mishap, DOT secretary becomes a spokesperson for helmet safety

It's not just because of her job that Mary Peters, Secretary of Transportation, cares about motorcycle safety.

Peters is an avid motorcyclist herself and one who knows firsthand how important wearing a helmet can be. “My helmet prevented me from being a brain injury patient when I crashed my Harley two years ago,” says Peters who suffered a broken collar bone when she hit the pavement. That’s why she’s now pressing Congress to enact legislation to encourage more states to pass motorcycle helmet laws.

“I want states to be able to join in urging riders to take personal responsibility for their safety by wearing a helmet every time they ride,” said Peters who is prompting Congress to allow states to use federal motorcycle safety funding to promote the use of motorcycle helmets. Currently, states are limited to using that money for safety training and awareness programs only.

Peters notes that motorcycle fatalities have more than doubled in 10 years to 4,810 in 2006. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,658 motorcyclists in 2006—and could have saved an additional 752 lives if all riders had worn helmets compliant with federal safety standards.

Although motorcycles account for only two percent of vehicles on the road, they make up more than 10 percent of all crashes. Part of the problem, says Peters, are aging baby boomers like her. “Many of them are going out and buying bikes—and wrecking them.” As a result, crashes among the 50-plus age group have gone up 400 percent in the last decade.

Those numbers help explain why Peters calls motorcycles “our nation’s greatest highway safety challenge”—and why DOT launched a new federal initiative last fall to improve rider education and training and to curb counterfeit helmets that provide less protection on the highways. Peters even starred in a public service announcement.

Unfortunately, in recent years, efforts to encourage all states to adopt laws requiring all riders to wear helmets have collided with a strong motorcycle rights lobby.

Holiday recall: Check your Easter baskets

In the better late than never department, the Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced a recall of two different Easter items because they violate the lead paint standard.

The toys—made in China and sold by Hobby Lobby Stores—are Camouflage Easter Eggs and Easter Spinning Egg Tops. The CPSC says about 13,000 toys are affected. Lead exposure can result from mouthing the eggs or handling the eggs and putting contaminated fingers in the mouth. And as we've said before, lead poisoning has been linked to developmental and learning disorders. More than 300,000 children in the U.S. have lead levels high enough to cause irreversible damage, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Children six and under are most affected. Because lead accumulates in the body; the only way to reduce the risk is to minimize exposure.

The eggs were sold at Hobby Lobby Stores nationwide from January through this month.  The camouflage egg sold for about $2.50 and the spinning top sold for $2. The CPSC advises parents to immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Hobby Lobby  (800-326-7931) to receive a $3 exchange card that can be used toward other Hobby Lobby products.

Note to Easter Bunny helpers: This recall is a good reminder to review any toys destined for Easter baskets to make sure they do not include the recalled goods, do not have sharp edges and are not inappropriate for the age of the child, such as small items that could be choking hazards for children under three. Among those are the hollow chocolate Kinder Surprise eggs we wrote about recently that contain small toys.

News accounts credit the latest recall to a chemistry profressor at Ashland University in Ohio. Jeffrey D. Weidenhamer, who has previously raised warning flags about toxic lead levels in toys and children's jewelry, tested numerous Easter items and found excessive lead levels (above 0.06 parts per million) in several toys. Sadly, this is just one more sign that lead in children's playthings continues to be a serious problem.

NHTSA improves grading system for child safety seats

How many times have we heard muttering, even cursing, from parents (including ourselves) as we try to install children’s safety seats in cars? Yes, we all know how important safety seats are. When properly used, child restraint systems reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers. The key here is "when properly used." So why can’t manufacturers make them easier to install?

As Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters recently said, “even the safest car seat can’t protect a child if it isn’t installed correctly.”  And data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that 7 out of 10 child safety seats are either the wrong size or seriously misused.

Fortunately, NHTSA has just revised its rating method for child restraints with a new system to better grade child safety seats for ease of use. The revised NHTSA system awards up to five stars in four different categories:

1. The content and clarity of the labeling;
2. The content and clarity of the instructions;
3. The ease of securing the child;
4. The ease of installing the restraint system in the car.

There is also an overall rating, with five stars being the highest rating, one the lowest.

Previously NHTSA had rated child restraints for ease-of-use assigning letter grades of A (highest), B and C (lowest) but recognized that though the rating protocol had been successful in encouraging manufacturers to improve their designs, recent ratings resulted in most seats being given the highest A grade. For seats evaluated for 2007, for example, 81 percent received an A rating.  The revised rating system is designed to better differentiate among seats and give manufacturers further incentive to add easy-to-use features as well as to address features related to LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) installation.

Unlike the star ratings assigned to new vehicles for their performance in crash tests, this new rating system doesn’t measure how effective each child seat is in protecting a toddler or infant in a crash—although all child restraints sold in the U.S. are already required to comply with federal crash-protection standards.

Even so, the new ratings should provide another source that parents and caregivers can turn to when comparing how easy various seats are to use. For that, we applaud NHTSA's efforts.

Report finds FDA lax in spinach inspections

Popeye would probably think twice about eating his favorite food if he got a chance to read a report recently released by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called “FDA and Fresh Spinach Safety.”

The findings paint a most unappetizing picture of food safety and once again underscore the need to give the Food and Drug Administration more resources to oversee the safety of the nation’s food supply.

The committee’s investigation was prompted by the September 2006 outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 that caused hundreds of reported injuries and several deaths—an outbreak that was ultimately traced to packaged fresh spinach.

Among the findings:

• Packaged fresh spinach facilities were inspected only once every 2.4 years, less than half of the FDA’s stated once-a-year goal.
• FDA observed objectionable conditions during 47 percent of the packaged fresh spinach facility inspections; the most common involved plant sanitation, plant construction and worker sanitation. For example, more than 60 percent of the inspections with “objectionable conditions” revealed problems related to facility sanitation, such as inadequate restroom cleanliness or accumulations of litter.
• Despite observing objectionable conditions in packaged fresh spinach facilities, FDA took no meaningful enforcement action. Although the FDA did refer one inspection to the state for further action, it did not issue warning letters or pursue more aggressive steps such as seizures or injunctions.
• In 38 cases, FDA observed repeated violations by packaged fresh spinach facilities but did nothing to force correction.
• FDA found repeated problems at multiple facilities operated by the firm implicated in the 2006 E. coli outbreak but took no enforcement actions. The records show that in the years prior to the outbreak, FDA conducted multiple inspections of several packaged fresh spinach facilities operated by Natural Selection Food and repeatedly found problematic conditions at a number of their facilities. According to the inspection records, however, FDA at no time required the firm to correct these conditions at any of its facilities, even after laboratory tests indicated the presence of microbial contamination at the exact site later implicated in the 2006 outbreak.
• In eight cases, packaged fresh spinach facilities denied FDA inspectors access to records or other relevant material. Under current law, FDA lacks the authority to compel production of firm records. On one occasion, inspectors were denied access to written records by the facility that was the site of the 2006 outbreak.

What’s more, even if the FDA had been conscientiously inspecting these plants, the investigation found that the scope of the agency’s inspections “appears too narrow to capture the sources of an E. coli outbreak."  After all, the source of the 2006 spinach-related outbreak probably did not originate in the facilities that are inspected by FDA but rather outside the plants and most likely was due to contamination of the water by cattle feces, pig feces, or river water.

Yet FDA does not routinely inspect the fields except in outbreak investigations: “Laboratory sampling can detect some microbial contaminations, but cannot prevent many outbreaks. The outdated statutory sanitation standard severely limits the scope of FDA’s ability to adequately prevent many outbreaks.”

Samantha Cabaluna, spokeswoman for Natural Selection Foods, said in an e-mail that her company does “agree with the committee’s findings that there is a need for strong federal oversight of food safety and a better-funded FDA. We have, in fact, been working with several coalitions to support stronger food safety standards."

The FDA, in a statement, said the agency is working on a food-protection bill to deal with high-risk food, including produce, and urges Congress to enact its proposed legislation by Memorial Day. "Despite recent concerns," the statement said, "the food supply in the U.S. continues to be one of the safest in the world and this includes fresh produce."

Given the number of recalls in recent years, consumers may beg to differ. As the congressional report shows, the FDA is very clearly an agency in need of immediate help. Consumers Union expects congress to address food safety in the coming months. Faith in our food system would be a welcome change for all of us.

A funny take on a serious issue
In case you missed it, editorial cartoonist Tom Toles, featured a funny face-off between Popeye and the FDA in a strip earlier this week.

Reebok to pay $1 million fine in lead charm settlement

Two years after a Minneapolis boy died of lead poisoning after swallowing the charm from a bracelet he got with a pair of Reeboks, the athletic shoemaker has agreed to pay a $1 million civil penalty levied by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The fine, announced today, is the largest ever for a violation of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) and follows the CPSC's recall of 300,000 Reebok bracelets in March 2006. It also follows months of increased scrutiny for the CPSC after a record number of recalls in 2007, including recalls of toys and children’s jewelry.

The penalty settles allegations that Reebok International, based in Canton, Mass., imported and distributed charm bracelets that contained toxic levels of lead. The bracelets were given away as a free gift with various styles of children's footwear from May 2004 to March 2006. Parts of the bracelet, imported from China, turned out to be 99 percent lead.

Jarnell Brown, 4, of Minneapolis died on February 22, 2006 after swallowing the heart-shaped charm. According to a report on the Star-Tribune.com newspaper Web site, Jarnell suffered vomiting, seizures and respiratory arrest before dying at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. "I just don't believe my son is gone because of some shoes," his mother, Juanna Graham, told the newspaper. The bracelet was recalled a month after his death.

“This civil penalty sends a clear message that the CPSC will not allow companies to put children’s safety at risk,” said CPSC Acting Chairwoman Nancy Nord in a press release.  “Preventing dangerous metal jewelry from reaching the hands of children is a priority for our agency."

Congress is in the process of finalizing legislation that would, among other changes, significantly lower lead levels in toys and other children’s products, require pre-market product testing, and strengthen the CPSC’s ability to stop dangerous products before they reach store shelves.

In the settlement, signed last week, Reebok denied violating federal law.

Many recalls of lead-tainted toys and jewelry have followed the Reebok recall. There were so many in 2007 alone that it was dubbed the "Year of the Recall." And as we reported in January,  the CPSC this year has been investigating whether any companies should be fined for those safety breaches. Scott Wolfson, a CPSC spokesman, said that consumers should expect to see more penalties this year.

In addition to its size, the fine was unusual because the CPSC infrequently issues fines for an actual violation. Fines are more commonly the result of a company's failure to report hazardous products and not the violation itself.  And although the CPSC currently lacks the quorum that’s normally required to levy civil penalties, a seldom-used provision in their laws allowed the Commission to delegate their authority to the Office of Compliance, which pulled the trigger on Reebok.  We now wonder if there are more civil penalties to come against companies such as Mattel/Fisher Price and RC2, which brought millions of lead-laden toys to market last year.

2.4 million toys containing magnets recalled

More than 2.4 million magnetic toys were recalled today and Thursday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission because the magnets can become detached, aspirated or swallowed and cause possible intestinal damage. The CPSC has received multiple reports of the magnets coming loose including one report of a 3-year-old boy receiving medical treatment to remove a magnet from his nasal cavity and one report of an 18-month-old boy with a magnet in his mouth, which was not swallowed.

Today's two large recalls were of MEGA Brands action figures and building sets (right). And on Thursday Battat expanded its January 23rd recall of construction sets by 7,000 from 125,000 units to 132,000. These recalls are sadly reminiscent of the millions of magnetic toys that were recalled last year. Given the ongoing problems with these toys, and the potential for serious injury or death, we continue to recommend that parents avoid all magnetic toys as well as other items containing small magnets if there are young children in the home. Parents should take any magnet toys away from small children and also scout around for any magnets that may have fallen out.

Last year, the CPSC issued a safety alert about the serious dangers magnets pose to children. As the agency pointed out, "small magnets can kill children if two or more are swallowed.  If two or more magnets or magnetic components or a magnet and another metal object (such as a small metal ball) are swallowed separately, they can attract one another through intestinal walls.  This traps the magnets in place and can cause holes (perforations), twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning (sepsis), and death. When multiple magnets are ingested surgery is required to remove the magnets and sometimes sections of the intestines need to be removed."

One family we know learned all too well about the dangers of the magnetic toy Magnetix, which was recalled last year, when their son was hospitalized after swallowing several magnets. Tegan Leisy of Colorado, then 3, had to undergo emergency surgery to remove six to eight magnets that had become attracted through his intestinal walls causing 11 perforations. His father, Tate Leisy, has chosen to speak out on the subject. "I would hate to see this happen to another parent," he said, adding, " ... it will probably happen again and continue to happen if [toy companies] keep selling this toy or similar versions."

Although there are no federal regulations on magnets, the current voluntary toy safety standard, ASTM F963, requires tests to make sure magnets don’t fall out of toys. Congress is currently working on final legislation to send to the President for signature that would make this voluntary ASTM standard mandatory. With this legislative reform, hazardous magnetic toys could be eliminated from the marketplace. In addition, the current voluntary standard is in the process of being strengthened so that, if approved, it will result in the elimination of toys with components containing magnets that are small enough to fit into a small-parts test cylinder.  The cylinders are available where childproofing products are sold.   

Here are the details of the recent recalls:

MEGA Brands MagnaMan magnetic action figures
How many: 1.3 million
Incidents: MEGA Brands and CPSC have received 25 reports of magnets coming loose from the figures.
Description: The recalled MagnaMan magnetic toys are figures that have body parts that attach with magnets. They come in either a “Futuristic Warrior” or “Ancient Warrior” theme. Each figure comes with three accessories.
Sold at: Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, K-Mart and other toy stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2007 for about $10.
Remedy: Consumers should return the toys to MEGA Brands for a free replacement toy. For additional information, contact MEGA Brands at (800) 779-7122 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.megabrands.com.

MEGA Brands Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-school magnetic toys
How many: 1.1 million
Incidents: MEGA Brands and CPSC have received 19 reports of magnets coming loose, including one report of a 3-year-old boy receiving medical treatment to remove a magnet from his nasal cavity and one report of an 18-month-old boy with a magnet in his mouth, which was not swallowed.
Description: The Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-school magnetic toys include small flexible parts embedded with magnets that allow the parts to connect to large, colored metal balls. (Top right)
Sold at: Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, K-Mart and other toy stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2007 for between $10 and $40.
Remedy: Same as above.

Battat Magnabild magnetic building toys or sets
How many: 7,000 (125,000 other Battat Magnabild building systems were recalled on January 23)
Incidents: CPSC and Battat have received 16 reports of magnets coming out of the building pieces.
Description: This recall involves the 108-piece (item number BB1439H) and the 68-piece (item number BAT-34) Magnabild Magnetic building system sets. The 108-piece set comes in a rotating display case containing 60 1-inch rods with magnets and 48 metal balls. The 68-piece set comes in a window box and contains 44 1-inch rods with magnets and 24 metal balls. The rods come in different colors. All of the plastic building pieces have the word “Magnabild” in raised lettering on them. “BB1439H” is found on a hang tag attached to the display case. “BAT-34” is found on the box.
Sold at: Various retailers nationwide and online sellers from July 2005 through February 2008 for between $20 and $35.
Remedy: Consumers should contact Battat to receive a pre-paid mailer to return the toy and to receive a free replacement product. Contact Battat Inc. at (800) 247-6144 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s Web site at www.battatco.com.

The 'surprise' in Kinder eggs may be a choking hazard

Ever since we wrote about the choking hazards of toys encased in hollow Easter eggs around this time last year, we've been getting comments from devotees who see no issue with the chocolate novelty. While we realize the Kinder Surprise eggs, made by Italy's Ferrero Group, are popular worldwide and considered a collector's item by some, we want to issue a reminder that the Surprise eggs have been banned in the United States since 1997, when the Consumer Product Safety Commission warned that the toys could pose a choking hazard to children under 3. (That same year, Nestle voluntarily withdrew a similar product, Nestle Magic.)

The CPSC banned the product because the toy surprise hidden inside can pose choking and aspiration hazards to children younger than three years of age. The Kinder eggs are hollow milk chocolate eggs about the size of a large hen's egg in a colorful foil wrapper. The toy within the egg is contained in an oval-shaped plastic capsule. The small toy requires assembly and each egg contains a different one. The labeling is in various languages.

Kinder Surprise also falls afoul of a provision in the 1938 Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which prohibits embedding "nonnutritive items" in confections. Despite the ban, which is fully honored by Ferrero's U.S. arm, Surprise eggs are widely available here, with many imported by companies specializing in foods from countries where the product is legally available. The eggs pictured above, for example, come from Poland, and were purchased for $1.59 each in a suburban New York gourmet food store. A Consumers Union staffer recently confirmed they are available in a small supermarket near our offices in Westchester County, New York. They are also widely available along the U.S.-Canadian border, since they're legal in Canada. Surprise eggs are also easily purchased on the Internet, from ethnic importers and candy merchants.

If you really want to surprise your kids this Easter, you can consider getting them candy and toys separately. Mixing the two, especially when the toy is embedded inside the candy as it is with the Surprise egg, sends a mixed message about what is and isn't edible, and puts younger children at risk. If your child receives a Kinder egg, the CPSC recommends taking it away.

Study: Artificial butter flavor in popcorn can damage lungs

A new study released recently found that exposure to an artificial butter flavor used in popcorn and other foods can damage the noses and airways of mice. The tests showed that diacetyl, a component of artificial butter flavor, can cause a serious condition that can lead to obliterative bronchiolitis or "popcorn lung."

In the tests, conducted by scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, mice that inhaled diacetyl vapors for three months developed lymphocytic bronchiolitis—a potential precursor of obliterative bronchiolitis. None of the mice, however, were diagnosed with the more-serious disorder.

Obliterative bronchiolitis is a life-threatening lung disease that has been detected in workers who inhale significant concentrations of the flavoring in microwave popcorn packaging plants. "This is one of the first studies to evaluate the respiratory toxicity of diacetyl at levels relevant to human health. Mice were exposed to diacetyl at concentrations and durations comparable to what may be inhaled at some microwave popcorn packaging plants," said Daniel L. Morgan, Ph.D., head of the Respiratory Toxicology Group at the NIEHS and co-author in a release on the study. It appears online in the journal, Toxicological Sciences.

The authors conclude that these findings suggest that workplace exposure to diacetyl contributes to the development of obliterative bronchiolitis in humans, but said more research is needed.

At the end of last year, four leading popcorn manufacturers—Weaver Popcorn Company, ConAgra Foods (maker of Orville Redenbacher's and ACT II), General Mills (Pop Secret) and American Pop Corn Company (Jolly Time)—announced plans to voluntarily eliminate diacetyl from their products. To address consumer concerns, some companies indicate that their product s are diacetyl-free on the packaging. Still, a number of consumer groups are calling for stronger measures regulating diacetyl.

Study questions use of phthalates in baby products

In caring for a new baby, many parents reach for a host of products that claim to be formulated for tender skin and other infant vulnerabilities. But authors of a study published in a recent edition of Pediatrics say their findings suggest that some of these formulas may expose children to a number of chemicals called phthalates, a group of chemicals that may pose long-term risks to the development of the reproductive and endocrine systems that regulate a child's metabolism and hormone functions. Some of these same chemicals have been banned for various uses in the European Union, and California has placed restrictions on certain children's products that take effect next year.

In the Pediatrics study, researchers tested urinary concentrations of nine different phthalate metabolites in 163 infants. The urine samples from all of the babies contained at least one phthalate at measurable levels—and more than 80 percent of the samples had measurable amounts of at least seven types of phthalates. Phthalates are used to stabilize fragrances and to make plastics flexible and can be found in many common household products. Some of these chemicals were voluntarily removed from soft vinyl baby toys in the late 1990s over concerns that they were toxic. Still, their use in personal care and other products has continued.

The test results surprised Sheela Sathyanarayana M.D., one of the authors of the study and an acting professor in pediatrics at the University of Washington. “I had expected the youngest infants to have very low concentrations of phthalates in their urine because newborns have decreased exposures to everything in the environment because they are not crawling or walking," she said.

Comparing the samples with questionnaires that the parents filled out about use of lotion, powder, shampoo, diaper cream and baby wipes in the 24 hours before the urine was collected, the researchers noted increased concentrations of two particular phthalates: monoethyl phthalate and monomethyl phthalate in those infants who had been rubbed with baby lotion. Increased concentration of monoisobutyl phthalate was found in those babies who had been exposed to baby powder while monomethyl phthalate was associated with baby shampoo. The associations were strongest in infants younger than eight months old.  No significant link was found between phthalate exposure and the use of baby wipes and diaper creams such as Desitin

Unfortunately,  it is unclear whether the lotions, powders and shampoos contain phthalates or if they were the main source of exposure because makers of those products are not required to list phthalate ingredients on the labels and the University of Washington study did not include tests of the products that were used on the babies in the study.  As the study notes, and Consumers Union tests of perfumes recently found, phthalates are commonly found in adult personal-care products. The findings from the urine samples suggest they may be in baby products as well, though it's possible that parents' use of adult personal care products and other items around the babies may have contributed to exposures.

The authors of the study say that young infants are more vulnerable to phthalates because they have a larger body surface area to volume compared to adults. Given these findings, they recommend that caregivers limit the use of infant care products, especially for younger infants, only applying lotions and powders for medical reasons.

More on babies and kids
To read more on health and safety issues affecting children, read our Babies & Kids blog.

Don't get burned by these recalled countertop appliances

Three countertop appliances have been recalled over the past five days by the Consumer Product Safety Commission because the small appliances pose a fire hazard. The largest recall included 482,000 Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters because they can remain "on" after popping up and cause nearby items to ignite. JCPenney recalled 27,000 deep fat fryers with faulty heating elements and QVC and Tristar pulled back 13,500 electric grills that can ignite if used with cooking oil or spray. At least three burns have been reported in connection with the fryer and grill. Owners of any of the recalled items are advised to stop using them and follow the remedy outlined in the CPSC's recall notices at the links below.

Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters
How many: 482,000
Description: The recalled toasters are black, red, white, chrome or brushed chrome with 2-slice or 4-slice openings. Hamilton Beach or Proctor-Silex is printed on the side of the toasters. Only specific series codes of each model are included in this recall. The model number and series code are printed on the bottom of the toasters. (The non-sequential model numbers include: 22145B, 22145BC, 22450, 22559, 22625, 22627C, 22635, 22657, 22658, 22779, 22900, 22903, 22903H, 24450, 24559, 24657, 24779.)
Why: The toasters can remain “on” (energized) after popping up, and can ignite flammable items covering or in contact with the toaster.
Incidents: Hamilton Beach has received at least 63 reports of toasters that remained “on” despite being in the “up” position. There have been no reports of injuries or fires.
Sold: At department stores, mass merchandisers, grocery stores, home center stores, and other retail stores nationwide, and various online retailers from August 2007 through February 2008 for between $13 and $40.
What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled toasters and contact Hamilton Beach for instructions on how receive a free replacement toaster at (800) 574-6800 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.hamiltonbeach.com for Hamilton Beach toasters, and www.proctorsilex.com for Proctor-Silex toasters.

Cooks deep fryers (JCPenney)
How many: 27,000
Description: The Cooks deep fryer has a brushed stainless steel exterior, a wire mesh basket with a handle, a lid with a window and black handles. The deep fryer has a 1/3-gallon capacity. “Cooks” is stamped on the side and model number 22016 is printed on the bottom.
Why: The deep fryer has a faulty heating element that can cause it to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Injuries: JCPenney is aware of five incidents involving the deep fryers, including one report of a minor burn and three reports of damaged countertops.
Sold: At JCPenney’s stores nationwide, in the catalog and at www.jcp.com from August 2007 through January 2008 for about $50.
What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the deep fryer and return it to the nearest JCPenney store for a full refund. For additional information, contact JCPenney toll-free at (888) 333-6063 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.jcp.com.

QVC and Tristar electric contact grills
How many: 13,500
Description: This recall involves a dual surface electric contact grill sold under the “Hulk Hogan’s Ultimate Grill” brand. The grills are silver/gray in color, have removable cooking plates, a cassette to catch drippings, and fold for storage or transport. Model number PZ-3012 is printed on a silver label attached to the back of the grills.
Why: Cooking oils or sprays applied to the grill’s cooking plates before preheating can cause the oil to ignite and/or flare up. Cooking sprays can ignite and/or flare up if used on the grill at any time.
Injuries: QVC and Tristar have received five reports of the grill igniting or flaring up, including two reports of minor burns.
Sold: At QVC through its television station, Web page, toll-free number, and its employee, retail and Studio stores; and through Tristar’s Web site www.hulkhogangrill.com, and a direct response television commercial from May 2007 through August 2007 for about $100.
What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using cooking oils on the grill prior to preheating. Cooking sprays should not be used on the grill at anytime. Consumers will receive a revised instruction manual with a cooking spray/oil use warning. QVC has sent warning notices to consumers to whom it sold the product directly. Tristar will do the same. For additional information, contact QVC at (800) 367-9444 between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET daily, or visit the company’s Web site at www.qvc.com. Consumers who purchased the grill from Tristar can call (800)718-5135 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.tristarproductsinc.com.

Largest meat recall results in related food recalls

Tracking down products that contain some of the recently recalled 143 million pounds of beef has not been an easy matter. The meat was used in a wide variety of packaged foods and we’re gradually learning which ones. As food companies comb through records of suppliers, some are finding that the Westland/Hallmark beef that was recalled on February 17 was used in one or more of their products, and they’re doing the right thing: pulling the food from store shelves.

General Mills has traced the beef in 35,000 cases of Progresso Italian Wedding Soup to Westland; Nestle has found it was used in Hot Pockets Philly Steak & Cheese and Croissant Crust Philly Steak & Cheese; and ConAgra is pulling certain lots of Slim Jims, Pemmican Tender Beef Jerky, Hunt’s Meat-Flavored spaghetti sauce, Hunt's ManWich Original Sloppy Joe sauce and Banquet Macaroni and Beef. Heinz has issued a recall of 40,000 cases of Boston Market Lasagna with Meat Sauce.

It’s important to note that, in each case, the Westland beef made up only a small portion of the ingredients and was often used in producing the food for just a few days. ConAgra, for example, e-mailed us that, “a tiny amount of Pemmican is impacted: only 0.00017 percent of total cases sold of all Pemmican for 2007 contains beef sourced from Westland/Hallmark.” And Nestle wrote in an e-mail that the recalled beef represents just “two days of production on one line in one facility.”

The recalls are labeled by the federal government as Class II—meaning there’s a remote probability of adverse health consequences from eating the food. The producers are asking retailers to pull the products from their shelves. Consumers who have purchased the processed food may opt to discard it. Each company said that consumers with concerns about products containing the meat can call their respective toll-free numbers for more information. General Mills’ (Progresso) number is (800) 200-9377; Nestle’s (Hot Pockets) is (800) 350-5016; ConAgra's (Hunt's, Banquet, Pemmican, Slim Jim) number is (800) 858-6372. And Heinz's Boston Market queries should go to (800) 488-0050.

We expect that as time goes on other manufacturers will similarly trace ingredients in their products to the recalled beef, and more items will be removed from stores. Unfortunately, because the original recall was so large and the meat distributed so widely, this process may take a while.

Senate passes CPSC Reform Act

The Senate took strong steps on Thursday to bolster the safety of millions of products sold in the U.S., particularly goods used by children. By a huge margin—79 to 13—the Senate approved a measure not only to strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission with more funds and enforcement clout but also to tighten the safety rules governing toys. Specifically, the approved bill lowers lead levels in all children's toys and also requires third-party pre-market testing for children's products. For all products, the measure creates a public database of complaints so that information on unsafe products can be shared more quickly.

The CPSC Reform Act of 2008, as the measure is called, was developed in response to a burgeoning number of recalls and safety issues that have overwhelmed the understaffed and underfunded safety agency over the past year. It was sponsored by a bi-partisan group of senators including Mark Pryor (D-AR), Ted Stevens (R-AK),  Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

“The CPSC is crippled under budget restraints, mounting imports and thousands of new products entering the marketplace. As a result, we’ve seen endless recalls and unnecessary deaths and injuries,” said Senator Pryor in a press release. “My legislation allows parents and the CPSC to fight back against the tide of dangerous toys and products. It provides new safety safeguards that emphasize resources, accountability, disclosure and testing—from the factory floor to the store shelves.”

Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, was among the many advocacy groups that supported the bill, which builds on the reforms contained in a House bill passed in December. “After 2007 became the Year of the Recall, consumers’ confidence in our product safety system was dashed,” said Ami Gadhia, Policy Counsel for Consumers Union. “In today’s climate of partisan politics, it is great to see the Senate come together to protect children and consumers in this global marketplace."

The groups supporting the Senate action acknowledge the importance of marrying the strong reforms of that bill with key provisions in the House product safety bill.  In particular, the groups point to the Senate’s provisions addressing the public database, state attorneys general enforcement and whistleblower protections.  The groups will urge conferees to keep these provisions, while also adopting a critical House measure that ensures product testing of more children’s products by defining such products as those designed for children under 12 years of age.  The Senate bill covers products designed for children under seven years of age. 

Time to spring ahead and into action

Here's a reminder for those of us who may not be paying close attention: daylight-saving time starts this Sunday, March 9th, at 2 a.m. Even though the old adage tells us we are springing ahead, it's still winter and therefore understandable that this one-time rite of spring may have caught many of us by surprise. While you're getting used to the new routine—this is the second year the time has shifted three weeks early—it's a good time to take stock. When you're resetting your watches and clocks (don't forget the one in your car), use this annual event as a reminder to perform some tasks that will enhance your family's safety year-round.

Clockwork
In addition to your timepieces, reset the clocks on appliances and electronics. Some newer appliances and electronics are equipped with a microchip that automatically resets clock displays at the beginning and end of DST; many of those may still need to be reset manually, due to the change in schedule (and you may need to reset them again in three weeks, when they "think" they're supposed to reset themselves). To facilitate the process, make a list of all devices that you need to reset manually: clocks, TVs, DVD players, VCRs, fax machines, cameras and thermostats. (It's especially important to reprogram your thermostat so that the heat in your home switches on and off at the right time.) Reset everything on the list in one session so that no appliance or electronic is forgotten.

Smoke and CO alarms
Replace batteries in all smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms. Always use fresh batteries, not those you "borrow" from other equipment. And follow manufacturer's instructions to ensure that these essential devices are working properly. Also, replace any smoke alarm that's 10 or more years old and any CO alarm five or more years old with a new model. You'll find the manufacture date on the alarm. See our report on carbon-monoxide alarms and our interactive on smoke alarms for more information.

On the road
Drive safely. Remember, an extra hour of light in the evening means dawn will break an hour later as well. So, if you have to get on the road before it gets light to take the kids to school or start your commute, be extra alert for children, animals and runners. I's also a good time to inspect vehicle lights. Take a look at the entire lighting system in your car to ensure that all lights are working properly. Clean the headlights and make sure they are correctly aligned according to the owner's manual.

In case of emergency
Update your family disaster plan. To respond properly to a natural disaster or other cataclysmic event, you need to have a plan in place and the necessary supplies on hand, and be prepared to act. See our free emergency guide to preparing for any storm or disaster. While you're making these preparations also check storage areas for any hazardous materials. Make sure to properly dispose of any materials that are outdated, no longer used, or in poor condition. Make sure those you keep are out of reach of kids or pets.

You can find some more information on preparing for daylight-saving time on our Home & Garden blog.

Combi USA recalls 67,000 infant car seats

Combi USA today announced that it is recalling 67,000 child safety seats because the seat can potentially become separated from its base and fail to adequately protect children in a frontal collision. The seats and travel systems being recalled are the Centre, Centre ARB, and Shuttle rear-facing infant seat models 8065, 8074, 8086, 8087, 8520 and the travel systems that contain these seat models 4400, 4515 and 4520.  The recall includes the entire production of these models from October 2005 through December 2007.

According to the manufacturer, the flaw was revealed in tests that it conducted recently with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Transport Canada. Combi USA has received no reports of injuries to date regarding the recalled infant safety restraints.

Combi is offering owners of the seat a retrofit kit that can be ordered through its Web site (www.combi-intl.com) or by calling (800) 543-7734. The kit should arrive within 6-8 weeks. In the meantime, Combi recommends that owners use the seat without the base. Owners can refer to the instruction manual for how to install the seat without the base. The seats were designed for use with or without the base.

Consumers with questions about this or any other safety recall campaign may call NHTSA's toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline 888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov. For more information, see Consumer Reports car seat Ratings.

24,000 Munire cribs recalled because of fall hazard

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a voluntary recall of the Majestic Curved Top and Flat Top Cribs, Essex Cribs, Brighton/Sussex Cribs and Captiva Cribs, manufactured by Munire Furniture Inc.

The cribs fail to meet the federal safety standards for cribs. The four support brackets on the mattress support spring are too long. The brackets prevent the spring from lowering to the full 26-inch minimum height in its lowest position, allowing children inside to crawl over the railing, posing a fall hazard.

The recalled cribs include: Majestic Curved Top cribs with model number 9500; Majestic Flat Top cribs with model number 9000; Essex cribs with model number 7100; Brighton/Sussex cribs with model number 9100 and Captiva cribs with model number 5100. Only cribs with manufacture dates between November 1, 2005 and November 1, 2007 are included in the recall. The crib model number is printed on the white label on the bottom inside of the right side rail. The crib manufacture date is printed on either the white label near the model number or on the white label located on the bottom of the headboard. Cribs with a green sticker on the mattress frame are not included in the recall.

The cribs were sold at specialty juvenile product stores nationwide from November 2005 through November 2007 for between $400 and $600. They were manufactured in Indonesia.

Consumers should stop using the recalled cribs and contact Munire Furniture to receive replacement spring brackets. For additional information, contact Munire Furniture Inc. at (866) 586-9639 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET or visit their Web site at www.munirefurniture.com.

Concerned parents should also read the recent CPSC report highlighting crib and play yard dangers.