 Journalist Jessica Marshall wrote for Discovery News 28 May 2008:
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Exposure to lead during childhood increases the likelihood of being arrested for violent crime — and is linked to decreased volume in regions of the brain associated with judgment and problem solving, according to two new studies. Numerous earlier studies have found relationships between lead exposures and behavioral problems in children, including aggression, antisocial behavior, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and juvenile delinquency. ...Those with higher childhood lead exposure showed decreased volume in parts of the prefrontal cortex associated with judgment, reasoning, mood regulation and some components of attention, said Kim Cecil, a collaborator of Dietrich's, who lead the brain study.
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It was also reported that lead is "a heavy toxic metal that can damage the brain". It was noted: "We need to think about lead as a very powerful drug, in a way that even at low doses can have a major effect on brain function".
CNN — LOU DOBBS TONIGHT — Aired May 28, 2008 - 19:00 ET
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LOU DOBBS, HOST: The Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced another recall of communist Chinese products. This time a recall of Little League batting helmets tainted with lead and hundreds of thousands of counterfeit circuit breakers that pose a fire hazard in addition to the fact that they don't work. Both products manufactured in communist China.
Kitty Pilgrim now reports on our government's failure to even consider protecting American consumers from dangerous imports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KITTY PILGRIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just in time for the summer Little League season. A recall of 2,300 Rawlings batting helmets made in China, containing toxic levels of lead paint. Rawlings said they tested for lead and are moving as fast as possible to remove the helmets from the market. Last year there were 25 million toys and sporting good recalls because of lead paint and toxic chemicals. And this year the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled two and a half million children's products this month alone.
DON MAYS, CONSUMERS UNION: The Product Safety Commission which has only about 400 full-time employees doesn't have enough staff to be working the more than 300 ports that we have in this country. So it's impossible to witness all of the stuff coming in and stopping the bad stuff, the counterfeit products, the unsafe products from crossing our border.
PILGRIM: China also shipped counterfeit circuit breakers to an American supplier, Specialty Lamp International (ph). The fake devices are virtually identical to the genuine product but the knockoff pose a fire hazard in homes. The company did not respond to calls.
Bush administration officials are going through the charade of tougher enforcement with few results. The Chinese still have not given the go-ahead for a dozen or so FDA officials that were supposed to be stationed in China and some question what good a dozen inspectors would be with $300 billion worth of food and product imported from China last year.
TOM BUIS, NATIONAL FARMERS UNION: They would have to be superheroes to be able to cover all of the products being shipped into the United States.
PILGRIM: But five months after the Chinese signed two agreements to improve the safety of export of food, feed, drugs and medical devices, the details are still not worked out.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: AHS Secretary Leavitt says he is optimistic the Chinese government will approve the opening of three FDA offices in China some time soon. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says if recalls continue at the current rate, it will be a 70 percent increase over last year. Lou?
DOBBS: Secretary Leavitt says he's optimistic.
PILGRIM: That's what he said. And it's been an ongoing discussion, but there's no approval...
(CROSSTALK)
DOBBS: Three offices in China...
PILGRIM: In China.
DOBBS: ... for 11 inspectors for $300 billion worth of products.
PILGRIM: The numbers don't quite work, do they?
DOBBS: They don't seem to work maybe just for all of us. I'm sure they work for Washington because they think we're a bunch of idiots. How big a fool do you suppose Secretary Leavitt is to think that we're this stupid?
PILGRIM: He says that the Chinese manufacturers should be held more accountable and he would like them to put the FDA certification, the Chinese government to put the FDA certification on to say they meet FDA standards which is his general approach to the problem.
DOBBS: That's brilliant. That goes along with this administration's request that Wall Street regulate itself. When does George Bush leave office?
PILGRIM: The good news is that there is legislation coming through that may tighten up standards for American manufacturers.
DOBBS: I heard this nonsense before. Thanks for trying to boost my spirits any way. We all appreciate it. The American consumer, you're on your own. We're on our own in this country. This government is completely indifferent to the welfare and people and safety of the consumer. It's disgusting.
Kitty, thank you very much — Kitty Pilgrim.
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It appears that Communist China is determined, along with American authorities, to get this toxic material into the bodies of Americans. |