[IMG]http://simplefeed.consumerreports.org/rsrc/i/1/_/this_week_in_safety_not_just_peanuts__570247597/4.gif?f=3dcb3160-01dc-11dc-32a2-0019bbc55f7f&s=AewyNia7NTvDvhaDemju5DEsbnVsbCwwLDA *[/IMG] This week in safety: Not just peanuts
Key provisions of the landmark Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act intended to limit the amount of lead and phthalates in children's products took effect this week. As we reported earlier, there has been confusion over some compliance issues involving the new laws that the Consumer Product Safety Commission is working to sort out. In the meantime, the agency has made efforts to clear up the confusion by issuing guidance, especially for smaller retailers, resellers, crafters and charities.

Of course, the recall of peanut products that used ingredients produced by the Peanut Corporation of America dominated the news and we've been writing about that all week. But in case you missed them, here are some other safety issues in the headlines this week.
Sensors help keep the elderly at home
The New York Times
Increasingly, many older people who live alone are not truly alone. They are being watched by a flurry of new technologies designed to enable them to live independently and avoid expensive trips to the emergency room or nursing homes.* Read more ...
Fire extinguishers from A to C
The New York Times
Most people know what a fire extinguisher looks like, but relatively few have ever used one, and probably fewer still would know how if their house or apartment were on fire. Read more ...
A new window into hormone-altering chemicals
Environmental Health News
An electronic database going public on Tuesday has gathered the latest science on some of the most controversial chemicals in use today, offering a handy look into potential health effects when babies are exposed while developing in the womb. Read more ...
Chinese drywall is quietly removed from houses
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
One neighborhood hit hardest by the Chinese drywall phenomenon -- Montauk Point Crossing in Heritage Harbour -- is now the scene of a half-dozen houses being gutted. The 23 houses are believed to have tainted drywall, which emits gases that have blackened metal components such as coils and wiring. Read more ...
So long, dirt-bike kids
The New York Times
Manufacturers and dealers are growing a bit frantic over the implementation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which would effectively ban the sales of small motorcycles and off-road vehicles intended for children under 12 years old. Read more ...
Read the label and between the lines

The Olympian
When was the last time you read the label of your household cleaner? The next time you have a chance, take a look. What's on there might surprise you. Read more ...
Safety news from the CR Blogs

Don't miss these recalls
If you are a peanut butter lover, we strongly recommend that you check the database of recalled products associated with the salmonella outbreak. While major brands of jarred peanut butter are considered safe, there are hundreds of products on the list that use peanuts as an ingredient.* Other recalls this week:
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