A study commissioned by the Oakland, California-based Center for Environmental Health (CEH) recently found excessive levels of lead in children's products from retail giants Target Corporation and Wal-Mart.

According to the CEH, Minneapolis-based Target was contacted by the California Attorney General, and the company has complied by halting sales of the products containing high lead levels.

The CEH announced Wednesday that the tests discovered excessive levels of lead-more than 70 times the legal limit in one instance-in two chairs for toddlers sold by Target.

Target spokeswoman Raslyn Wooten said that the two products were only sold online through the retailer's Web site-and the items have since been removed and are no longer for sale. She declined to comment on the refund process, stating only that Target is “committed to providing high quality and safe products to our guests.” She also said “accountability is the foundation of how Target does business.”

At Bentonville, Arkansas-based Wal-Mart, the test found high levels of lead in toddlers' bean bag chairs, boxing gloves, and toy foam beads sold for kids' jewelry. According to the CEH, the products contained excessive lead levels ranging from 3 times the legal limit to more than 45 times the limit. Three adult jewelry items were also found to have high levels of lead. According to the CEH, Wal-Mart has only pulled the products from its California stores.

Target-which operates a retail segment and a credit-card segment-now serves customers at more than 1,750 stores in 49 states nationwide and on its Web site. The retailer opened 10 new stores on October 10. It is Minnesota's second-largest public company based on its revenue, which totaled $65.4 billion in its most recently completed fiscal year.