Money and Health Blog

Hello Kitty Look-Alike Jewelry Unsafe Lead Exposure Health Hazard Safety Recall

Pecoware, located in California, has been distributing children’s’ jewelry that has a high content of lead which exceeds United States Government Standards.

Included in the jewelry line is a very similar copy of the Hello Kitty trademark.  It’s an adorable little kitten charm on a chain-link necklace.  Consumers are advised in a recent press release to contact the distributor and request a recall tag so that the merchandise can be returned to the warehouse and handled appropriately.

The jewelry is manufactured in China and sells for around $13.00 USD. These necklaces contain a high level of lead and pose a threat to your child’s health.  Lead is very toxic and if ingested can cause adverse health effects in both children and adults.

There were about 3000 of these charm necklaces distributed in the United States during 2006 and 2007.  Depending on the quality of Pecoware and the care of the pendant owners, it may be safe to assume that the majority of these deadly lead laced trinkets are all laying in landfills across the country and Mother Nature can run its course in burying the toxic lead back into our planet.  We can only hope that these little charms have been broken into tiny pieces because lead is not biodegradable.

These are being recalled because of the risk of lead exposure which can lead to serious health issues.  There have been NO Pecoware Lead Poisoning reports made in this recall as of yet, at the time of this blog entry.

There is currently a hotline phone number set up to accomodate this recall, but it’s not clear how long it will be available.  The number currently supplied for this potentially fatal lead poison health risk is TOLL FREE: Pecoware at (800) 456-7326 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.pecoware.com

For specific information and details on contact information, visit the Consumer Product Health and Safety website.

In the USA alone, there are over 300 thousand toddlers reported to have elevated levels of lead in their bloodstream.

Children absorb nearly three times as much lead as adults.  There are no instant or obvious signs or symptoms of unhealthy lead exposure.  However, long term exposure over the years may lead to mental and physical disability situations.

Extremely high levels of exposure can cause seizures, unconsciousness, and death.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Homes built prior to 1978 are at high risk for toxic levels of lead exposure.
• Old lead pipes can deliver lead toxin directly to you from your water faucet at home.  That’s why many homebuyers replace their pipes and spigots immediately.
• Contaminated food and soil are a source for lead toxins as lead is not biodegradable and it will not decay or dissolve away.

• Many toys have been recalled due to the high lead content in the paint that is used to color them.  Most of the time these toys are imported into the United States from overseas.

Food Poisoned For Life

Food Poisoning Can Last A Lifetime

Recent studies have shown that food poison illnesses such as, E. Coli, salmonella, shillelagh, and even very mild cases of campylobacter can lead to significant health problems long after the initial illness.

Results of ongoing research have shown that E. Coli has caused high blood pressure, kidney damage and kidney failure decades later in patients who had the disease in early childhood. The research is not there yet to show what other aliments may be contracted due to the strain of E. Coli. Arthritis and short term paralysis are being seen in patients who have had some of the other food borne illnesses.

Doctors say there is just not enough case studies to have an answer about what other diseases these food poison illnesses are causing. With almost 80 million new cases of food poisoning being contracted each year, no one could say for sure what other diseases food poisoning is responsible for.

The recent increase in food recalls has become so high, added research needs to be priority number one. Last year over 30 million pounds of beef was jerked off grocer shelves due to the E. Coli contamination. This high number is very alarming when considering beef was just one of several items recalled last year. The number of Recalls are going up quickly.  Hopefully Experts will be able to follow suit and increase their scientific studies. 

Something that scientists have been able to prove through their research is that later year complications only occur if the kidneys started to have problems while the patient was suffering with E. Coli.

One in every one thousand cases of campylobacter causes the nervous system to begin to shut down about 30 days after actually being sick. Reactive arthritis can be seen after about 6 month and can lead into chronic arthritis years later.

• What is Campylobacteriosis?
  Campylobacteriosis is a transferable infection caused by bacteria in the class Campylobacter. Most people who become sick with campylobacteriosis get diarrhea, spasms, abdominal pain, and fevered temperatures within a few days after introduction to the germ. The diarrhea may be riddled with blood and can be partnered with queasiness and vomiting. The illness typically lasts several days. A few victims who are infected with Campylobacter don’t have any symptoms at all. In persons with weak immune systems, Campylobacter sporadically spreads to the bloodstream and is the starting point of severe life-threatening illness.  

Scientists just do not have enough information to determine what all these food borne illnesses are responsible for. Researchers will need to do case studies on patients long term to achieve accurate findings.

A few common things recently handing out this eluding poisonous bacteria are Pet and Wild Turtles , Breakfast Cereal, Apples, Packaged Salads, and of course, Ground Beef.

Q. What damage can Campylobacter bacteria cause?
A. Illness caused by Campylobacter bacteria is called campylobacteriosis and is usually sourced by consuming unclean (not pasteurized) milk, uncooked meat or poultry, or other contaminated foods and water, and contact with feces from infected animals. While the bacteria can exist in the intestinal tracts of people and animals without causing any symptoms or illness, studies show that consuming as little as 500 Campylobacter cells can cause the illness.

Symptoms of Campylobacter infection, which usually occurs within 2 to 10 days after ingested, include fever, stomach and intestinal cramps, and bloody, loose stool. Doctors will usually prescribe antibiotics when diarrhea is intensive.

Attack from this vicious ailment may lead to meningitis, urinary tract infection, short-term reactive arthritis, and occasionally an unusual type of paralysis known as Guillain-Barre syndrome may occur. Most victims suffering with campylobacteriosis get well within a few days. However, some Campylobacter infections can be fatal, resulting in an estimated 124 deaths each year.