NEW YORK — Toy maker Mattel Inc. will pay $12 million to 39 states, including Hawai'i, to settle an investigation over Chinese-made lead-tainted toys shipped to the U.S. in 2007.

Hawai'i will receive $200,000 as part of the settlement announced yesterday, which will be used to fund consumer education and enforcement of state consumer protection laws.

"This important settlement will help protect our keiki from the dangers of lead poisoning by ensuring that a major toy manufacturer will stop producing toys with dangerous levels of lead," said Stephen Levins, executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection.

Mattel and its Fisher Price unit recalled more than 21 million Chinese-made toys last year, beginning in August, fearing the items were tainted with lead paint and tiny magnets that children could accidentally swallow.

As part of the agreement, Mattel also agreed to lower the acceptable level of lead in toys shipped to the states to 90 parts per million, down from 600 parts per million, which is the federal standard. When new regulations go into place next year, the federal standard will also fall to 90 parts per million.

States taking part in the settlement besides Hawai'i are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

California reached a separate agreement.