Usually my blog entries center around specific products geared toward children, such as recalled cribs and toys, but today it’s about the food they putting in their mouths, specifically fruits and vegetables. An article in the June issue of Pediatrics includes some interesting research regarding pesticides and their possible connection to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

The new findings suggest that exposure to high levels of certain pesticides, commonly found on nutritional items such as berries, celery and other produce, and could raise the odds for this disorder.

The authors point out that right now, there is no specific evidence pesticide exposure can actually cause ADHD.

Here’s how the study breaks down: The authors looked at data on pesticide exposure and ADHD in more than 1,100 American children aged 8 to 15. The researchers found that kids with higher pesticide levels in their urine were more likely to have ADHD.

Exposure to the pesticides, known as organophosphates, has been linked to behavioral and cognitive problems in children in the past, but past research has focused on people closely related to fruits and vegetable such as farmer’s communities of farm workers and other high-risk populations. This study is different in that it is the first one to examine the effects of exposure in the population at large.

But how might pesticides harm brain development? According to the authors, high doses of organophosphates or pesticides may inhibit a certain nervous system enzyme. Lower doses of the pesticide may affect different growth factors and a part of the brain, known as neurotransmitters.

No one is saying you should stop feeding fruits and veggies to your kids, but extra precautions such as thoroughly washing them or perhaps buying organic, which contain fewer pesticides, may help.

Attorney Jeffrey Killino's focus is on keeping kids safe and knows problems associated with your children through no fault of their own is a very serious matter and can leave a parent feeling helpless.

If you believe your child was injured or has developed a serious illness as a result of either a faulty or recalled consumer product, please contact defective child product lawyer Jeffrey Killino at 877-875-2927 today.

Last week I told you about a huge recall concerning Graco and Simplicity cribs. Now comes word of yet another major recall involving children’s products.

A part of Johnson & Johnson is recalling certain children’s over the counter liquid medications. The Food and Drug Administration says the problem centers around manufacturing deficiencies, which may affect the quality of the product.

The products recalled include certain lots of infants’ and children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl products because some of them may have more of an active ingredient than specified. The products were manufactured by Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare division. Other products involved in the recall may have foreign particles such as manufacturing residue.

Although the chance for serious harm is small, McNeil officials are urging parents not to give the products to children. The specific products in question involve Tylenol Infants Drops, Children’s Tylenol Suspensions, Infants’ Motrin Drops as well as Benadryl Allergy liquids.

This is not the first time McNeil has been cited. Back in January, the company was forced to recall hundreds of lots of adult and children’s products after receiving reports of moldy smells coming from over-the-counter drugs made in Puerto Rico.

Attorney Jeffrey Killino’s focus is on keeping kids safe and knows child injuries are very serious and can leave a parent feeling helpless. If you believe your child was injured as a result of a faulty or recalled consumer product please contact child injury attorney Jeffrey Killino at 877-875-2927 today.

Over the past few months I’ve been telling you about the risks associated with various kinds of products, specifically ones targeted toward kids. This blog is different in that it does not mention products; instead it focuses on the issue of school bus safety.

You may have heard about a recent school bus crash outside Philadelphia. The accident killed a 27 year old man and prosecutors say the driver was driving recklessly just before the crash.  This was a tragedy that clearly could have been prevented. Investigators say the driver, Frederick Poust III, blew through as many as 10 stop signs and it was all caught on tape, courtesy of on-board surveillance cameras. The crash not only killed the driver of a car that the bus driver hit, but it also injured five students on the bus.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time Poust has been in trouble with the law, regarding his time behind the wheel of a school bus. In 1999, Poust was cited for careless driving in a crash that killed a 2-year-old girl. In that case he admitted to running a stop sign while dialing a cell phone. In this latest crash, investigators say he was not holding a cell phone, but court papers indicate that he been talking on a wireless headset and been listening to music on a speaker system. Poust, of Schwenksville, PA has been charged with homicide by vehicle and 46 counts of recklessly endangering another person.

It is unbelievable that someone who had taken the life of a child in a previous accident could be so reckless. He obviously did not learn his lesson.

When parents send their kids off to school, they assume they will be protected and transported in a safe manner. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In April of 2009, in Charlotte, NC, a school bus crash injured 36 students.

We all know, accidents happen, but in the case of Poust, it clearly could have been prevented. Putting the lives of children at risk is unacceptable.

Attorney Jeffrey Killino’s focus is on keeping kids safe and knows child injuries are very serious and can leave a parent feeling helpless. If your child was injured as a result of a school bus accident, please contact child injury attorney Jeffrey Killino at 877-875-2927 today.

We have another consumer alert to tell you about concerning a children’s product. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has just announced that Children's Bracelets are being recalled by Chandigarh Fashion Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard. This is a voluntary recall in cooperation with the CPSC. The name of the product is Children’s Bangles and as many as 1,200 units have been recalled.

The problem centers on the surface of the bracelets.  Apparently they contain high levels of lead, which violate the lead paint  standard.  The bracelets were sold in packets of 24. They are gold with stripes of various colors including red, maroon, black orange or green.

They were manufactured in India and imported by Chandigarh Fashion, Inc.

No incidents or injuries have been reported, but it is advised that the bracelets not be worn and be taken back to the store where purchased where a full refund can be given.

The products were sold at : Chandigarh Fashion stores in Flushing, N.Y. and Sonia Selections stores in Chicago, Ill. from May 2007 through August 2008 for about $2.

Parents, grandparents and anyone buying gifts for children must be diligent in choosing, safe toys for children. This can be accomplished by first doing some research on the toys you plan on buying to make sure they don’t pose a risk.

Attorney Jeffrey Killino’s focus is on keeping kids safe. He is no stranger to toxic toys. In 2007, he filed a class action lawsuit to compel Mattel to provide free testing of all children who played with lead toys.

Child injuries have the potential to be very serious and can leave a parent feeling helpless. If you believe your child has health problems associated with lead-based toys or other dangerous chemicals found in children’s products, please contact child injury attorney Jeffrey Killino at 877-875-2927 today.

We have an alert to tell you about. An investigation is underway by U.S product safety officials following a disclosure that links a toxic substance to children’s jewelry imported from China. The investigation comes about following an article by the Associated Press which tested and documented how some Chinese Manufacturers replaced cadmium for lead in cheap charm bracelets and pendants being sold throughout the United States.

As a known carcinogen, Cadmium like lead, can hinder brain development in young children and now the feds are promising to remedy the situation in a very swift manner.

Unfortunately, the risk to children is dangerous, especially since they don’t even have to swallow an item to be exposed. Babies and toddlers can get persistent, low-level doses by regularly sucking or biting jewelry with a high cadmium content.

The Associated Press investigation showed that some of the most troubling test results were for bracelet charms sold at Walmart, at the jewelry chain Claire's and at a dollar store. High amounts of cadmium also were detected in "The Princess and The Frog" movie-themed pendants.

Attorney Jeffrey Killino is no stranger to unsafe toys that contain lead, manufactured outside the United States. He filed a class action lawsuit to compel Mattel to provide free testing of all children who played with lead toys back in 2007. He was also responsible for causing a national recall of 450,000 tires manufactured in China.

Jeffrey Killino’s focus is on keeping kids safe and knows child injuries are very serious and can leave a parent feeling helpless. If you believe your child was injured as a result of a faulty, recalled or defective consumer product please contact child injury attorney Jeffrey Killino at 877-875-2927 today.

We have another product warning for parents with small children to tell you about. Today, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and IKEA announced a voluntary recall of a certain type of highchair. The recall centers around LEOPARD Highchairs. The company says the snap locks used to secure the seat to the frame can break and allow the seat and child to drop through the frame, posing a fall hazard to young children. Another problem includes the detached snap locks which can pose a choking hazard to young children. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately.  

About 600 units were sold at IKEA stores nationwide from October 2009 through November 2009.

The LEOPARD Highchairs were manufactured in Italy and distributed out of Conshohocken, PA.
 
IKEA has received 11 reports worldwide of failing snap locks, including one report of a child falling through the frame and suffering bruised legs. In addition, the firm has one report of a child mouthing a detached snap lock. No incidents have been reported in the United States.

Consumers should immediately stop using the highchairs and return them to any IKEA store for a full refund.

Attorney Jeffrey Killino’s focus is on keeping kids safe and knows child injuries are very serious and can leave a parent feeling helpless. If you believe your child was injured as a result of a faulty or recalled consumer product please contact child injury attorney Jeffrey Killino at 877-875-2927 today.

With just days before Christmas, another recall involving a child product has been announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This time the product in question involves Dorel Infant Car Seat/Carriers. About 447,000 units have been recalled.   The CPSC says that when used as an infant carrier, the child restraint handle to the seat can loosen and come off, posing a fall hazard to infants.

The Dorel Infant carriers are manufactured in China, but distributed out of Columbus, Indiana. The company has received 77 reports of the child restraint coming off causing at least three injuries to babies, including bumps, bruises and at least one head injury. The products were sold at various stores nationwide from January 2008 through December 2009. The model number and manufacture date are located on a label on the side of the care seat/carrier. Brand names include Cosco, Eddie Bauer and Disney.

Attorney Jeffrey Killino’s focus is on keeping kids safe and knows child injuries are very serious and can leave a parent feeling helpless. If you believe your child was injured as a result of a faulty or recalled consumer product please contact child injury attorney Jeffrey Killino at 877-875-2927 today.