Nation's libraries asked to pull children's books from before 1986
Story Created:
Mar 23, 2009 at 12:01 PM EST
Story Updated:
Mar 23, 2009 at 12:01 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - After all of these years, could some long-standing children's books like The Cat In The-Hat actually be dangerous for your kids?
It has nothing to do with the content of the books, but the physical makeup of the books themselves - some of them may contain high levels of lead.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC wants children's books printed before 1986 removed from shelves while the agency investigates levels of lead in the ink used in many old picture books.
The CPSC says there's little danger of lead poisoning from the old books, but it's asking the nation's libraries to get rid of them just to be on the safe side.
The American Library Association says it can't estimate how many pre-1986 children's books are in circulation, but Darby O'Brien, the Executive Director of the Utica Public Library says they have very few on their shelves.
And many of the popular older titles have been replaced over the years since 1986.
"This came out in 2007," said O'Brien, as he held a copy of The Cat in the Hat. "Although the book itself was published in 1957. Dr. Seuss was very popular, so over the years we have replaced many times all of the books we have by this author."
The CPSC request is voluntary, but it may become part of a law that would mandate it. No word on an exact date of when that may happen.
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