February 25, 2008

The Michigan Department of Community Health's Healthy Homes division is partnering with two scientific instrument manufacturers to offer free toy testing for lead at the three following events:

- Saturday, March 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Healthy Homes and Innov-X Systems will be at the West Michigan Home and Garden Show, at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. Testing will be held in the Grand Gallery.

- Saturday, March 8th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Healthy Homes and Innov-X Systems will be at the Michigan Home and Garden Show at Ford Field, Detroit.

- Saturday, March 8th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Healthy Homes and Niton Analyzers will be at the Superior Dome in Marquette for the "U.P. Builder's Show". Testing will be held at the Healthy Homes booth on the main floor of the dome.

Parents will know within a few seconds the results of each toy screening. Parents may be asked to limit the number of toys depending on the popularity of the event. Families are also encouraged to stop by the Healthy Homes booth or speak with a Healthy Homes staff member for more information about making their homes safer and learning about household hazards such as lead paint, lead dust, allergens, asthma triggers, mercury, and carbon monoxide.