In a voluntary recall, toy maker RC2 (NASDAQ: RCRC) has taken specific toys off the shelves from its line of Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway figurines. The company said earlier this week that the surface paint on some items manufactured between January 2005 and April 2006 contain lead.

Lead paint has historically been a problem in homes with children because, if ingested, the element can cause neurological problems that may impact behavior and learning. So far, there have been no reports of illness or injury due to the paint.

Upon reading this news brief, my first move was to email my oldest friend, whose five-year-old son, Ethan, has a slew of toys from the Thomas collection. In fact, Ethan currently lives for three things (after his parents and sister): Disney movies, his dog and best friend George, and his Thomas the Tank collection. Sure enough, some of his items were included in the recall, and they've been packaged for shipping. Too young to comprehend the dangers of lead paint, he's naturally beside himself with devastation, but safety, of course, is first.

Concerned parents can visit the Totally Thomas website, which lists the more than two dozen specific toys impacted by the recall. Those toys with a code "WJ " or "AZ" on the bottom of the toy are not part of the recall. The company has now agreed to pay for the return shipping for all consumers who request it. This PDF shows close-up photos of all the trains involved.

RCRC officials estimate that the company will suffer a second-quarter charge of $1 million to $2 million relating to this recall. In midday trading, the shares have managed to gain 1%.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.