In a truly scary development, independent laboratory testing for the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has found tremolite - a deadly form of asbestos - in the toy fingerprint powder in the “CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationTM Fingerprint Examination Kit” being sold at toy stores nationwide. ADAO publicly announced the test results two weeks ago, but the toy — made in China — remains on toy shelves across the country and available online. At ADAO’s request, Public Justice is now taking action to protect children and the public from this deadly threat.

Yesterday, Public Justice sent an urgent letter to CBS, which licenses the toy in conjunction with its popular “CSI” series; Planet Toys of New York, the distributor; and key retailers nationwide seeking an immediate meeting to determine how these companies are going to protect children and others from potentially-fatal exposure to asbestos. The letter raises the possibility of an immediate recall, refunds for customers, and a plan for the safe disposal of the asbestos-tainted powder.

The risk here is particularly grave because the asbestos-contaminated toy is already in powder form and, incredibly, the directions call for users to blow on the powder or dust it away, so any asbestos contaminant is almost certain to be inhaled and widely disseminated. When respirable asbestos fibers are inhaled, they reach the deep recesses of the lung where they are deposited permanently. Eventually, these fibers can cause a horrific lung disease, called asbestosis, and may cause deadly cancer, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. The injuries can manifest several decades after first exposure. There is no established “safe” level of exposure for any asbestos fibers. In particular, mesotheliomas have been reported to occur following seemingly trivial, transient exposures to minuscule amounts of asbestos.

We hope and believe this problem can be resolved without litigation, but we have put the addressees on notice that “ADAO will be forced to take alternative steps” if they do not respond immediately.

To read Public Justice’s letter to CBS, Planet Toys and retailers, click here.To read the ADAO report on the lab test findings, click here.

Jill M. Webb, a partner with Phillips Law Offices in Chicago serves on the Board of Directors of Public Justice. If you feel that you or your loved ones may have been injured by this “toy” or any other products, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Phillips Law Offices.