ILLINOIS READY TO BAN LEAD TOYS

A bill that would ban toys and other items containing more than trace amounts of lead has been enacted by the Illinois Legislature. 
Gov. Rod Blagojevich plans to sign the legislation, a spokesman told the Chicago Sun-Times.

"This goes hand in hand with other initiatives that the governor has taken to fight lead poisoning, protect the environment, protect children's health," Gerardo Cardenas, a spokesman for the governor, said. "It's something that we support."

The bill was inspired by recent incidents involving lead-filled toys and, more recently, the death of a 4-year-old Minnesota boy. His brain swelled after he sucked on a heart-shaped charm given away by the sneaker manufacturer Reebok.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, has introduced a bill that would ban toys with lead in them nationally.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International 

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