Lead in Dog Toys - DIY Test Kits Unreliable

Posted by Clare Bristow

Given the recent toy recalls it's understandable that people are buying DIY lead testing kits to see if their dogs' toys have dangerous levels of lead in them.

I had a quick look at one web site this evening, and it boldly states: "Attn: Parents and Grandparents! Test all your kid's toys using our lead test kit. Simply dab on the surface and look for a color change!"

Before you rush out and buy one of these kits, please be aware that a recent test by US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff has found that DIY lead testing kits produce unreliable results.

In fact the CPSC has carried out intermittent tests on home lead detector kits since 1992, and the results have always been the same - these kits are not reliable.

In the most recent test of DIY lead testing kits, carried out in October, the CPSC tested two kits, and found that:

56 out of 104 times lead was not detected by the kit, even though it was present;
2 times out of 104 lead was detected kit even though it was not in the product.

These poor results are understandable when you look in more detail at the background of these kits:

Most lead test kits are developed to detect the level of lead in household paint. The acceptable level of lead in household paint is much higher than the CPSC maximum lead level allowed for paint on products. So, the kits probably aren't sensitive enough to detect low lead levels.
The kits are designed for detecting lead in paint, not lead in vinyl, jewelry, metal etc. Some kits give instructions for adapting the test for these materials, but the results aren't going to be very reliable.
The test for lead is determined by a chemical reaction - the patch tested will turn a certain color if lead is present. Unfortunately other substances present in the product - such as iron, tin, dirt particles - can affect the outcome, and so the results are unreliable.

Click to read the CPSC report Evaluation of Lead Test Kits

So, please ignore the claims that these products are a great way to test your child/family/pets toys for lead - the products just aren't designed to do that.

Rather than worry about the lead content in your dogs toys, why not throw them all out and stick to homemade ones?

Here is a short video in which Stanley Coren shows you how to make a really cheap dog toy from a plastic bottle.

When Zoe was a puppy, chasing a plastic milk bottle around the deck was her favorite pastime - she still does it when she gets the opportunity!

Keywords: dog toys, lead in dog toys, lead test kits, toys from China

Filed Under Dog Toys, Blog

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Comments

4 Responses to “Lead in Dog Toys - DIY Test Kits Unreliable”

Johann on October 25th, 2007 9:25 am

Great info! Thanks! Woofs, Johann
JAZEVOX on October 31st, 2007 9:41 am

thanks for the info about the kit, save everyone money from using the kit that is not 100 percent reliable!

in the video, the homemade softdrink plastic bottle sounds interesting, i wonder though, since dog can crack and break platics if the softdrink plastic bottle are safe if the dog accidentally shallow these material..
Clare Bristow on October 31st, 2007 8:55 pm

Thanks for your comment Jazevox - you are right about needing to watch your dog/puppy in case they swallow any part of the toy they are playing with; that goes for any type of toy.
I'd just use the plastic bottle once, and then throw it away.
Bram Klein on January 24th, 2008 5:46 pm

For any dog owners in Southern California, we'd be happy to screen your dog toys for lead. Our company, Inspect-A-Toy, Inc. uses an XRF analyzer to check all of our client's dog toys. We can be reached at 888-ISPYLEAD (888-477-9532) or online at www.Inspectatoy.com. If you don't live in California, feel free to ship your dog toys directly to us and I'll have them back to you before your dog notices they are gone. By the way, we have an Irish Setter named Jake (see website for details, a picture of Jake and prices for testing). Hope it helps!