Poisoning Children
Children's toys and jewelry sold in stores throughout the Tampa Bay area contain dangerous amounts of lead, the Tampa Tribune's Mary Shedden reports in "Toxic Trinkets." Out of 50 items tested by the Tribune, one in three contained lead levels higher than the standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for small children, Shedden writes. The items, all made in China, included racing cars, rings, bracelets, earrings and a harmonica. This story is a good example of enterprise reporting that demonstrates how an international problem affects local readers. The Web version of the investigation comes with a video story made in conjunction with WFLA Channel 8 showing the terrible impact that lead poisoning had on one 4-year-old Tampa area boy. www.tbo.com/news/reports/lead/index.htm