Lead Issue No Longer Kids Play

Recent tales of child fatalities caused by the swallowing of leaded items like small beads in toys will surely lead to futher outcrys of the metal’s harmful effects. In response to one tragic event, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall on certain lead-containing jewelry. Several makers have already pulled charm bracelets that contain small lead pieces off the shelves.

Lead has little or no place as an item in toys and costume jewelry where it can come into contact with humans, especially small children. Still, how much do you want to bet that in all the stories this tragedy spawns, not one points to the useful — indeed, critical — place lead assumes in our everyday life.

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About Mike

Mike Buetow is president of the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (pcea.net). He previously was editor-in-chief of Circuits Assembly magazine, the leading publication for electronics manufacturing, and PCD&F, the leading publication for printed circuit design and fabrication. He spent 21 years as vice president and editorial director of UP Media Group, for which he oversaw all editorial and production aspects. He has more than 30 years' experience in the electronics industry, including six years at IPC, an electronics trade association, at which he was a technical projects manager and communications director. He has also held editorial positions at SMT Magazine, community newspapers and in book publishing. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois. Follow Mike on Twitter: @mikebuetow