Steve Quinn aimed a XRF scanner gun at a wrestling action figure to measure lead and other substances in the small toy.

When he squeezed the trigger and the gun completed its calculations, a screen registered 460,000 parts per million of lead — far in excess of the current maximum standard of 600 parts per million.

The toy was recalled several years ago due to its high lead content but was purchased recently at a Wisconsin discount store.

Quinn, Dave Milke and their wives, both named Joan, recently started Elemental Safety, a McFarland home-based business that measures lead content in toys and other items for parents, retail stores and distributors.

Quinn and Milke founded the business after they were laid off by Emerson Network Power – Embedded Computing, a computer components company that closed its Madison plant in April.

They had some experience with lead testing as former employees of the Madison facility of Thermo Fisher Scientific, which sells the Niton XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) scanner they use. Joan Milke still works at Thermo Fisher and Joan Quinn is a trained metallurgist.

Most childhood lead poisoning in Wisconsin is attributed to lead-based paint in old buildings. But lead paint is commonly used today to enhance colors and flexibility in imported toys. Some chew toys for dogs also have high lead content.

More than 40,000 Wisconsin children were identified with lead poisoning during the decade ending in 2006, according to "The Legacy of Lead," a report issued last year by the state Department of Health and Family Services.

Lead poisoning in children causes learning disabilities and its effects can last a lifetime, said department Secretary Karen Timberlake in the report.

The issue of lead in imported toys was highlighted last week when Mattel and its Fisher-Price subsidiary were fined $2.3 million by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for knowingly importing and later recalling about 2 million toys containing lead.

"It hasn’t been difficult for us to find things that are excessively high," said Dave Milke. "I think the issue is exposure for children and the fact that it’s very permanent."

Both the Quinns and the Milkes have young grandchildren and have tested their toys and clothing. A teething ring was found with lead of more than 500 parts per million and a small chain decorating the pocket of a tweed coat was found to be 100 percent lead.

The scanning guns cost $31,000 to $42,000 plus more for extra features and require training to operate properly, Milke said. Parents sometimes have banded to together to rent scanners for toy testing, but he said the training is necessary.

Federal lead content standards are getting tougher, Milke said. Beginning in August, the maximum level will be cut in half to 300 parts per million and imported toys will require certificates of compliance by third-party testing beginning next February. Maximum fines for retailers selling non-compliant items have risen to $100,000 per occurrence from $5,000.

While Elemental Safety’s testing can’t be used for a certificate under the new standards, Milke said, it can help parents and store owners identify suspect toys.

Similar lead-testing businesses have sprouted in other places such as Essco Safety Check of Redmond, Wash., which recently opened a retail store where parents can bring toys for testing.

Milke said the growth potential for Elemental Safety may come through buying more scanners and expanding to other Midwestern cities.

At a glance

Elemental Safety of McFarland is a new business that screens toys and other items for lead content.

Web site: www.elementalsafety.net

Phone: 608-579-1300