From the link above:
- Lead is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems and is particularly harmful to young children.
- There is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe.
Any level of exposure to lead should be avoided. There are many potential routes to exposure beyond “eating or licking the stones”. Residue from touching the stones could be transferred to other things (like food) and eventually ingested (people won’t always carefully wash their hands). Fine particles could come off of the stones and be inhaled. Further, it would be difficult to ensure that lead-containing go stones would always be handled carefully by only adults and kept away from pets and children. This would be a burden not only on the current owner of such stones, but also on any future owners.
Frankly, I think you are either misinformed or acting irresponsibly by suggesting that potential lead exposure “is not really a health issue” (even if you just mean for adults). What’s the point of making such an argument anyways? To suggest that some level of lead is acceptable? No level of lead should be considered acceptable in this type of product.