BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Parents who are trying to start shopping for the holidays often find themselves overwhelmed by a recent rash of recalls involving lead-tainted toys.

ABC23 took a closer look at the results of a toy test done by its sister station in Denver. The test took place in a Denver reporter's home and in a day care center. Lead expert Bill Radosevich used an electronic testing tool called a Thermo Scientific Niton Analyzer and aimed it at everything from dinosaurs to rubber ducks.

The results were frequently surprising and occasionally shocking. Radosevich found lead embedded in many toys and frequently the levels were off the charts. Six hundred parts per million is the allowable limit for surface lead in toys. Several toys came back with levels several times that amount.

But what do these numbers mean? Does every toy that tested hot for lead need to be tossed out? ABC23 News asked Kern County senior health educator Dr. Kathy Van Reusen to watch the report. She was surprised by what she saw.

"I am just amazed that they found the high levels in basic toys that kids are using," said Van Reusen. She said most children who test positive for lead in Kern County have been exposed to lead paint in homes. But the source of many poisonings is untraceable and she said maybe these test results provide a clue.

Kaiser Permanente pediatrician Kip Tulin isn't convinced that's the case, especially when viewing results regarding hard plastic toys. He said parents should relax and consider some of the testing that has already been done on children. "We are testing kids that play with these toys that have levels supposedly off the charts," said Dr. Tulin, "and lead is not showing up in the bloodstreams or in any of the clinical stuff we do."

Both doctors agreed that parental vigilance is key when it comes to the safety of any toy. Van Reusen said enforcing basic hygiene can fight off both germs and lead. "Washing the hands is very important because if you can't keep it out of their mouth," said Van Reusen, "at least get their hands washed before eating and before bedtime."

For more information on recent toy recalls visit www.cpsc. gov.

To learn more about general toy safety, go to Toy Safety.