Author's note: in 2004, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) conducted a voluntary recall of 150 million pieces of toy jewelry. In 2006, 300,000 charms containing lead were given away in a Reebok shoe promotion. They were recalled when a Minnesota boy died after ingesting one.

Lead, Stone says, is also found in vinyl used in construction, such as siding, as well as in backpacks, zipper tabs, lunch boxes and computer cords.

What are the effects of lead poisoning? "For children, even a small amount of lead can kill," says Stone. She explained that lead is also a cumulative poison, with a half-life of many years depending on diet and other environmental factors, meaning that any exposure adds to a person's lifelong risk. Lead is sequestered in the bone, where it replaces calcium. In children, it interferes with developing neurological cells, which could result in a lower IQ and other problems such as Attention Deficit Disorder. Studies have show that unusually aggressive prisoners often show high levels of lead in their system.

How can consumers test their own household items for lead? Hyrbrivet Systems sells testing kits of its own patented design through its distributor, Homax Products. The kits can be found in, among other places, the paint department at Home Depot (NYSE:HD). (Larger size kits are available on Hyrbrivet's website, www.leadcheck.com.)

Author's note: The EPA has compiled a guide for checking yourself and your possessions for lead. Leadcheck.com also has a lot of additional, more detailed information.

After talking with Stone, I wondered just who was checking toys for lead at the time of import. I talked to Patty Davis of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, who told me that CPSC agents spot-check items as they pass through customs. However, given the hundreds of millions of items flowing into the country, this is necessarily a very small percentage. They also pull products from warehouses and off store shelves to test for lead. The commission requires manufacturers to take responsibility for assuring their products are lead-free, as well. The commission currently has a major enforcement program targeting lead in children's toys, especially jewelry.

My take on the issue? Although the CPSC is addressing the lead problem, its budget doesn't stretch to comprehensive screening of imports. The safeguards in place to detect lead before items go on sale, therefore, leaves a great deal of the burden for detection and reporting on the vendor. Obviously, in a world economy this responsibility is spread widely, and therefore prone to breakdowns.

Lead contamination is more widespread than you might imagine, and the effects of lead poisoning are severe. A wise consumer will remain skeptical of the most common lead-containing items, especially inexpensive jewelry and toys. Simple user-friendly tests are available for the consumer to test his/her suspicions.

The best advice for us all, as our mothers told us repeatedly -- don't put things in your mouth!