The government is taking its concern about lead in consumer
products beyond toys. New efforts by health and safety officials
are looking at potential lead hazards in imported ceramic dishes
and cookware made in China and Mexico, as well as lead in
lunchboxes and vinyl baby bibs. Some ways to avoid lead
poisoning at home: - Maintain the paint in pre-1978 homes, but
don't scrape or sand without proper safety equipment. - Test
imported ceramic dishes and cookware with a home lead-test kit,
or use them for decorative purposes only. - Don't let your child
use vinyl bibs that are cracked or peeling. - Get rid of old,
plastic mini-blinds, which can create lead dust. Later this
month, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug
Administration and other government agencies will launch a
campaign to educate Hispanic communities around the U.S. about
lead hazards in the home, including traditional ceramic pottery
made in Mexico. The commission also is helping to develop a
voluntary standard to limit lead i