Defective Products from China – From Chinese Drywall to Lead-Contaminated Toys

By Neil Smith

Published on October 07, 2009

American companies have increasingly depended on the import of foreign-made products due to the cheaper cost of labor and supplies in other countries. Unfortunately, products manufactured abroad may not adhere to the strict safety standards we have here in the United States. In the past few years, several products baring the "Made in China" label have raised serious health concerns and have even led to product recalls.

Chinese Drywall

Amid the U.S. housing boom in the early 2000s, American companies imported Chinese drywall to meet the demand for cheap building materials. The drywall was later found to be defective, ruining an estimated 100,000 homes in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Homes containing Chinese drywall often emit unpleasant odors and corrode electrical wiring. Humidity and heat cause toxic compounds in the drywall to contaminate the indoor air, causing serious health problems. Tests on Chinese drywall show that it contains dangerous levels of sulfuric and organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, and strontium sulfide. Chronic exposure to toxic Chinese drywall can adversely affect the cardiovascular, breathing, and central nervous systems.

Lead-contaminated Toys

American companies have recalled a range of Chinese-made toy products that contain lead. Exposure to high levels of lead is especially dangerous for children because it interferes with the development of the nervous system and could cause permanent learning and behavior disorders. Lead is also toxic to the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive system.

Some of the biggest lead-contaminated toy recalls of products made in China include:

• Mattel Recalls: In August of 2007, Mattel recalled 1.5 million Fisher Price branded toys, including Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer products due to lead contamination. Two weeks later, Mattel recalled an additional 9.3 million toys, including Barbie, Polly Pocket and Cars movie items due to lead contamination and tiny magnets that could be swallowed. All recalled toys were made in China.
• Target Recall: In 2006, almost 200,000 Kool Toyz brand play sets were recalled due to sharp edges and lead contamination; Target also recalled about 350,000 Happy Giddy gardening tools and Sunny Patch chairs, and 5,000 Anima Bamboo Collection games due to lead contamination.

Tires

A New Jersey company recalled 450,000 radial tires for pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans because the Chinese manufacturer failed to include a safety feature that prevents tread separation. Tests on the tires showed that they were made without the gum strips or with inadequate gum strips.

Food Additives

Contamination of food additives imported from China has led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to more closely scrutinize raw ingredients manufactured in the country. Vegetable-protein additives from China have been found to contain the chemical melamine, which is generally used in the manufacture of plastics. The dangers of melamine on humans are not known.

However, in 2007, 60 million cans of cat and dog food were recalled because the Chinese additive was contaminated with melamine. The tainted pet food is believed to be the cause of at least 14 pet deaths in the United States.

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