I feel so much better now that one toy manufacturer has been held accountable...but I have questions. One being that I don't remember previously hearing any rumblings to the growing increase of Autism diagnoses and lead in children's toys. But then, maybe I haven't been paying attention.

Mattel settles with 39 states over tainted toys

Toy maker Mattel Inc. will pay $12 million to 39 states to settle an investigation over Chinese-made lead-tainted toys shipped to the U.S. in 2007, state officials said Monday. (my emphasis added)

Mattel and its Fisher Price unit recalled more than 21 million Chinese-made toys last year, beginning in August, fearing the items were tainted with lead paint and tiny magnets that children could accidentally swallow.

All the affected toys were pulled off shelves by December 2007.

As part of the agreement, Mattel also agreed to lower the acceptable level of lead in toys shipped to the states to 90 parts per million down from 600 parts per million, which is currently the federal standard.

So for all the years toys were made in China using whatever chemicals here we are today.

Autism a factor in swallowing magnets

CINCINNATI, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers said a child's medical or psychological status -- such as autism -- was a factor linked to swallowed magnets.

"Not all children will be inclined to swallow magnets, but if a particular child displays tendencies to eat or swallow inappropriate objects, flags should be raised and special attention should be paid to ensuring that toys do not contain any type of magnetic components," study author Dr. Alan Oestreich of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center say in a statement.

The study, published in Pediatric Radiology, found a child's medical or psychological status was a factor linked to magnets swallowed by children.

Personally, I try mightily to not buy toys at all...and especially now that I have learned that magnets look like chocolate to kids