ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 4, 1994                   TAG: 9401040199
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

CUSTOMS SERVICE STOPS CHALK, CRAYONS FOR LEAD

Some imported chalk and crayons contain lead that can harm children, the U.S. Customs Service has discovered. Inspectors seized 570,000 contaminated packages in 1993.

A customs laboratory in Los Angeles found the problem in February while testing imported chalk suspected of containing pesticide. Instead, it found lead.

After that, inspectors began checking colored chalk and crayons for lead, which can cause brain damage in infants and children if ingested. Federal law bans lead in art supplies sold for children.

"No level of lead is considered safe in a children's crayon," Customs Service spokesman Dennis Shimkoski said Monday. - Associated Press 


 by CNB