Dice/key toy

[EngTeach]

My husband figured out a toy that is taking our Goffins 2 some time to break apart. He bought some acrylic dice and drilled holes in them in a corner. He then put a key-chain circle in each one and suspended them by pieces of chain from an acrylic top. He added old keys to some of the chains. So far its lasted a week...about 5 days longer than any other toy we've give Chaucer. He's given wooden toys to take apart, but is really loving the dice one.

[habs71]

Although the toy sounds cool, keys contain lead and zinc.

"…normal key wear might expose high-percentage composition lead particles to
the handler.
Not only may lead in keys expose the handler to this toxic metal, but also the locksmith/key makers are
exposed. Indeed, key grinders may have a health risk many times that of the key user due to continuous lead
exposure from the grinding of keys. Kondrashov et al. [3] tested six professional locksmiths and six control
volunteers for bone and blood lead and concluded that “locksmiths are chronically exposed to lead.”

Therefore
lead, either homogeneously alloyed with brass or as concentrated particles (heterogeneously distributed) are
being respired and likely imbibed by locksmiths.
Another issue perhaps even more serious is the propensity of parents to give babies and toddlers rings of keys as toys. Some children become so enamored with keys that parents request used keys from lock and key stores

A health risk exists for the entire population, not only for locksmiths/key makers. Small children who are
allowed by their parents to play with keys may have significant lead exposure, especially for those children that
put keys in their mouths. Long term sucking on keys may be a source of lead that health officials have failed to
consider with children who have been found to have elevated blood lead. The consequence of lead in small
children is well known – brain growth retardation and other health issues.
It is likely that lead particles from
keys are ubiquitous in our environment, especially on hands.

In 2001, the California State Attorney General came to a settlement with the manufacturers regarding key lead.
The key manufacturers “…will pay $30,000 to the Public Health Institute to advise pediatricians, child care
providers and others about the importance of not letting children play with keys, because of the lead hazard they
pose” [2]. This either did not happen, or the $30,000 was woefully inadequate to counter this problem. I have
3
observed small children playing with keys. Parents of these children are usually shocked when informed of the
lead hazard associated with keys.

References

1. Anonymous. 1999. Attorney General Lockyer sues key manufacturers over failure to warn consumers about
exposure to lead from keys in violation of Proposition 65. Cautions against using keys as toys with small
children. News Release, Office of the Attorney General, State of California, Department of Justice. October 12,
1999.

2. Anonymous. 2001. Major manufacturers agree to reduce amount of lead in door keys under settlement of
Proposition 65 lawsuit. News release, Office of the Attorney General, State of California, Derpartment of
Justice. April 27, 2001.

3. Kondrashov, V.S., S.J. Rothenberg, J.S.Jahr, J.L.McQuirter and S.N.Steen. 2004. Are locksmiths at risk from
anesthesia? An assessment of lead exposure. Anesthesiology 2004; 101:A1396"


Skip

[cfulhage]

Skip- you beat me to that!

Be wary of any metal that you let your bird chew on! If its not part of a high quality bird toy, then its probably not safe!

[Kevin]

Sounds like the toy idea is good, prb just need to use stainless steal ring instead and your clear of any possible dangers.

[Machelle]

for the keys, I would suggest using baby toy keys. They will be able to chew them and wont last as long but they can be replaced and are fairly cheap, especially if you get them from the dollar store. Also, be careful of those o rings. Birds have been known to get their toes caught in them and they lose a toe. Several people in the group that I belong to (we make toys for needy parrots) have had personal experiences with them so we dont even use them. What happens is their toenail gets caught between the metal. If you feel you need to use them, please supervise him when he is playing with that toy.