Hysteria in the name of safety

Aren’t we overreacting to the lead content in toys from China [“A Hazardous Playmate,” Aug. 27]? How much lead is on a single toy? What is the likelihood of a child ingesting measurable quantities of the lead to cause any health problems?

There is no way to completely sanitize our world; in our overzealous efforts to do so (with pesticides, antibacterial soaps, and antibiotics to kill everything), we have created more harm than good.

Who is behind the hysteria and why? The answer to those questions would be far more important than fomenting international conflict.

Stephany Yablow

North Hollywood