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CoPIRG: High levels of lead in some fidget spinners sold at Target

Watchdog group says Target won't stop selling
Posted at 7:34 AM, Nov 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-09 09:36:00-05

DENVER -- They're one of the biggest toy fads in recent years, but a new report finds high levels of lead in some fidget spinners sold at Target stores and online.

The Colorado Public Interest Research Group, or CoPIRG, reports that the problem is with two types of fidget spinners:

1. Fidget Wild Premium Spinner Brass:

  • The center circle tested for 33,000 parts per million (ppm) of lead.

2. Fidget Wild Premium Spinner Metal:

  • The center circle tested for 1,300 ppm of lead.

The legal limit for lead is 100 parts per million.

CoPIRGreport that when Target and the toy’s distributor, Bulls i Toy, were alerted to the findings, they refused to address the problem. CoPIRG says Target and Bulls i Toy defend their inaction by pointing to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) declaration that fidget spinners are NOT technically “children’s products” subject to legal limits for lead.

CoPIRG says lead exposure is particularly damaging for young children because of its impact on development. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to undermine IQ, attentiveness, and academic achievement. 

CoPIRG is calling for an investigation into how these toys ended up with such high levels of lead, and wants Target to address the problem and ensure that no other fidget spinners have similarly high levels.

You can get more information on CoPIRG's website.