Lead paint and magnets are the latest concerns after a series of recalls by toy manufacturers. What are the dangers from exposure to lead paint? If magnets detach from a toy, what danger do they pose? Professor David O. Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and Environment at UAlbany's School of Public Health, has studied the effects of lead on IQ in both people and animals. Carpenter, who previously served as director of the Wadsworth Laboratory of the New York State Department of Health, received his doctorate from Harvard Medical School, and has 220 publications, 37 reviews and book chapters and 12 other publications to his credit.

As the holiday shopping season nears, toymakers -- whether or not they're tainted by recalls -- are increasing efforts to safeguard their products and positions with consumers. What will the potential fallout be for toymakers? Will parents eschew the traditional toys and brands they typically buy? How will toymakers change their marketing strategies, given the recent headlines? Marketing professor Sanjay Putrevu has published widely in the areas of consumer behavior, advertising, retailing, and international marketing. His current research explores consumer response to advertising/IMC, cross-cultural differences, effectiveness of retail and marketing strategies and the impact of corporate social responsibility on consumer patronage/loyalty.

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