Washington state passes toy safety bill: report

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law a bill placing the toughest restrictions in the United States on the amount of lead in children's products, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition.

The bill reduces the allowable level of lead in toys to 90 parts per million, far below the federal standard of 600 parts per million, the newspaper said.

Lead paint is toxic and can pose serious health risks, including brain damage in children.

The new law -- called the Children's Safe Product Act -- sets tough limits on cadmium, a metal used in paints and plastics and phthalates, the Journal said.

The newspaper also reported that under the new law, toy makers are required to notify government regulators in the state if their toys contain chemicals "of high concern," which is expected to be a list of about 50 substances that the state Department of Ecology will draw up over the next year.

Millions of toys were recalled around the world last year due to excessive levels of lead paint.

(Reporting by Justin Grant; Editing by David Holmes)