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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Are Chinese Workers Paying the Price for Cheap Goods?

    Some 21 million toys made in China and imported by the United States have been recalled because of lead paint or other dangerous defects. With the holidays approaching, that has Americans worried and angry about possible health affects on their children.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Some 21 million toys made in China and imported by the United States have been recalled because of lead paint or other dangerous defects. With the holidays approaching, that has Americans worried and angry about possible health affects on their children. Yet while trying to improve its 21st Century standing by sending men to the moon, China's workers are living and dying in 19th Century conditions. That's according to journalistic investigations and testimony to Congress, which is looking at a proposal to ban imports from overseas "sweatshops," where Chinese workers are exposed all day, every day to Benzene, Lead, Cadmium, Toluene, Nickel and Mercury. We hear about workers exposed to a witches' brew of cancer-causing chemicals 84 hours a week for 53¢ an hour. Already worried about product safety, will US consumers pay more for the safety of human beings 5000 miles away?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    'Cheap' Imports from China: Who Pays the Real Cost?
    1. 1:40Iran Denounces Administration's New Sanctions
    2. 7:35Are Chinese Workers Paying the Price for Cheap Goods?You’re reading this
    3. 45:28Bequeathing a Ravaged Planet to Future Generations
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Karen Radziner

      Managing Producer, To the Point & Which Way LA?

    • KCRW placeholder

      Dan Konecky

      Producer, To the Point

    • KCRW placeholder

      Loretta Tofani

      veteran journalist

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ted Fishman

      'China, Inc'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Robert Kapp

      former President, US-China Business Council

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    'Cheap' Imports from China: Who Pays the Real Cost?
    1. 1:40Iran Denounces Administration's New Sanctions
    2. 7:35Are Chinese Workers Paying the Price for Cheap Goods?You’re reading this
    3. 45:28Bequeathing a Ravaged Planet to Future Generations
    Back to To the Point