Highly toxic lead levels in toys

The Super Motivity Truck was found to have 26,550 mg/kg of lead in yellow paint. Photo / Supplied

Highly toxic levels of lead have been found in children's toys sold at bargain stores in the lead up to Christmas.

The Commerce Commission is investigating six toy products with "extreme urgency" after routine tests last week found they contained up to 314 times New Zealand's allowable level of lead.

It is seeking to recall the products found at Dollar City and Coin Save in Waiuku, Fashion Leader and Golden House in Papakura and Bargain City at Botany Downs.

All the toys were tested as part of regular screening and surveillance conducted by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

Though the commission is yet to establish how widely the toys have been distributed, one of the affected stores - Coin Save - has outlets nationwide.

Commission Enforcement Manager Greg Allan said the toys posed a serious risk to children's health.

"These products, while not targeted specifically at small children, would pose a significant health risk to a small child if they were to chew or suck on the toys.

"The migratable lead in some of the products is at alarmingly high levels. Parents and caregivers need to immediately remove these toys from the household," he said.

"Where child health is concerned we cannot afford to be complacent. No child should play with the toys that have been identified,"

The allowable level of lead for children's toys in New Zealand is 90 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg).

One of the toys tested registered a migrateable lead level of 28,280 mg/kg.

Toys containing more than 90 mg are banned under an Unsafe Goods Notice, which is enforced by the Commerce Commission under the Fair Trading Act.

High levels of lead can cause symptoms such as vomiting, stomach pains, difficulty sleeping, constipation and loss of appetite in young children.

If untreated, very high blood lead levels can result in more serious problems and lead to brain damage or death.

Mr Allen said any parents concerned their children might have played with these toys should arrange a blood test through their GP to see whether treatment was needed.

"If you have purchased these products you are entitled to a full refund from the store you bought from under the Consumer Guarantees Act. As they are low value items, if returning to the store for a refund is not a high priority, the toys should at the very least be thrown in the rubbish."

A spokeswoman for the commission said the investigation was still in its early stages and the priority now was getting the potentially toxic toys out of the hands of children.

The commission's investigation into the importation and distribution of the banned goods will take place under the Fair Trading Act.

Penalties for breaching the act can include fines of up to $200,000 for a company and $60,000 for an individual.

The products shown to contain high levels of lead are:

* Kinder-Gartengerate-set (with 1,582 mg/kg lead in red paint), purchased from Dollar City in Waiuku
* Combat Mission Gun (with 28,280 mg/kg of lead in yellow paint), purchased from Coin Save in Waiuku
* Bakugan Battle Brawlers (with 735 mg/kg of lead in black and yellow paint), purchased from Coin Save in Waiuku NB: The commission believes this product is an imitation. It has no concerns about the genuine article.
* Team Quick Stunt Moto 3 bike set (with 105 mg/kg of lead in yellow paint), purchased from Fashion Leader in Papakura
* Action Team Assault Rifle (with 15,190 mg/kg of lead in green paint), purchased from Golden House in Papakura
* Super Motivity Truck (with 26,550 mg/kg of lead in yellow paint), purchased from Bargain City in Botany Downs