Do books need to get the lead out?

May 20, 7:33 AMSeattle Books ExaminerDanielle Dreger-Babbitt

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Since the beginning of 2009, reports of lead in illustrations in children's picture books have been circulating.  In April, KIRO 7 News did a couple of sensational stories about lead in books.

Because of exclusive work done by KIRO Team 7 Investigators, we are now certain some children's books at your local library contain toxic levels of lead.  Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne reveals results of our own certified tests -- results so explosive they've already caught the attention of Congress.  A new law targeting hazardous levels of lead in a wide variety of children’s products does not exempt books. The American Library Association thinks that's unfair, telling federal regulators that kids' books don't contain lead and checking their inventory is a waste of money.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission starting this year, children's products are considered hazardous with lead levels exceeding 300 parts per million and a new federal law says toys and children’s books with lead over 100 parts per million cannot be sold or distributed in 2011.

Two of the books KIRO 7 tested at the Seattle Public Library were positive for lead, both of which were published before 1986.  Of the 152 books that tested negative for lead, nearly all were newer and had been published since 2004. 

It seems that most people are not terribly worried about lead paint in books.  A few have even gone on to say that KIRO 7 did some irresponsible reporting.

I think it's a given that there may be lead paint in the illustrations in children's books published prior to the 1990's.  Why wouldn't there be?  After all, most older homes have lead paint.  It comes with the territory.  What I would like to see from KIRO 7 is exactly how many picture books published prior to 1986 are still circulating in the Seattle Public Library.  I would take a wild guess that there are not that many.  Picture books do not have the longest life span.  They get chewed on by the dog, torn up, and defaced and are taken out of circulation.  Then new copies (probably recent reprints) are purchased to replace these damaged copies. 

According to one scientist,

No known cases EVER of lead poisoning from books (of 44 rare sources of lead poisoning in children cataloged by CDC, none is from a book – only print-related case was an infant who had elevated levels after parents burned logs made from old newspapers – people don’t burn children’s book logs.) No mention ever, anywhere of lead in books even contributing to elevated lead levels.

KIRO 7 didn't even begin to discuss how a child would get lead poisoning from a picture book.  Chances are the child would have to eat the illustrations and digest them in order to get the lead into their bloodstream.  After all, people who have lead paint in their house are generally safe as long as they aren't licking the paint chips on the window sill.  Right?  Most children who chew on books aren't chewing the paper pages, they're chewing on the book cover.  Parent's shouldn't be worried about lead- they should be worried about Swine Flu and various other germs on the books their child is eating.  Library books are not very clean.  I would make a safe bet and say a child is more likely to get the Flu from a picture book than lead poisoning. 

I've heard reports about people burning old children's books because they are "unsafe" due to lead.  Correct me if I am wrong (science never was my strongest suit), but wouldn't burning lead illustrations be more harmful than good?  Wouldn't toxic lead fumes be in the air?

All of this hoopla around lead poisoning in children's books annoys and agitates me.  Seriously, is it that big of deal?  I was a child of the 1980's who read a hell of a lot of books (when grounding me my parents used to take away books, not television privileges if that tells you anything about me).  I probably licked my fingers and turned the pages of library books hundreds of times.  I may have even chewed on a few books before I could read, yet I am still alive and reading nearly thirty years later.  I'd like to think I turned out fairly normal.

Perhaps what parents and educators and news reporters should be concerned about is not lead in library books, but used books instead.  If there are books from yesteryear still kicking it on a book shelf, they are going to be found in a used book shop or in someone's attic.  Maybe it's the picture book collectors that should be worried.  For those who are still hanging onto their childhood reads or collecting vintage illustrated classics, my advice would be to keep doing it, just don't eat the book.  If you're terribly concerned about the safety of your children or pets, put the books out of reach and read your kid a new edition of Goodnight Moon.