YARMOUTH – A Maine company is voluntarily recalling 18,000 water bottles because its own tests revealed unsafe levels of lead in paint used on them.

Downeast Concepts says the bottles, manufactured in China and sold by 750 retailers since 2006, are subject of the recall. The “Backyard and Beyond” metal water bottles have designs painted on them.

The company is no longer doing business with the product’s manufacturer, New Sunny Industry and Trading Co., located in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, said Director of Operations Wayne Powell.

The bottles retailed for about $8 and were sold primarily at small novelty shops. The bottles, which had a plastic top, came in green, pink or blue colors with a variety of animal or insect graphics on the exterior.

Downeast advised consumers who purchased the bottles to return them to stores for a full refund.

Tuesday’s announcement marked the second time Downeast has recalled a product this year. The company voluntarily recalled about 400 toy rakes last month due to unsafe lead paint levels. Those products also came from China.

Yarmouth-based Downeast began the tests after a number of Chinese products were recalled last year. Powell declined to disclose the results of the company’s tests. He said only that both products exceeded federal lead paint standards of 600 parts per million.