By Khalida Sarwari
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Thursday that thousands of Chinese-imported children’s necklaces that officers seized in March are tainted with lead.
Customs and Border Protection officers detained about 10,242 pieces of children’s necklaces suspected of containing excessive amounts of lead. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission confirmed in April that the items contained lead that did not comply with its lead paint ban.
“This seizure showcases the vital role that CBP officers perform in keeping children safe from potentially dangerous goods,” CBP San Francisco director of field operations Richard Vigna said in a statement.
Lead is harmful to adults and especially to children, who can suffer damage to their brains and developing nervous systems if it is ingested, leading to reduced IQ, learning disabilities and behavioral problems
Customs and Border Protection, a sector of the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for the management, control and protection of U.S. borders and official ports of entry.