17 December 2014
Toxic chemicals found in majority of holiday decorations
A new study tested seasonal products from retailers Walmart, Target and CVS. Two-thirds contained substances linked to cancer, learning disabilities and other health Problems.
A range of seasonal holiday products containing high levels of toxic chemicals are being sold by top retailers, including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Kroger, Lowe’s, CVS and Dollar Tree, according to a new study.
Researchers for the environmental non-profit The Ecology Center tested 69 seasonal holiday products and found that two-thirds contained one or more hazardous chemicals that have been linked to serious health problems.
Purchased at seven retail stores in southeast Michigan, researchers tested beaded and tinsel garlands, artificial wreaths and greenery, stockings, figurines and other tabletop decorations, and gift bags. The study identified lead, flame retardants, tin compounds and phthalates, among other hazardous substances. These have been variously linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, liver toxicity and cancer.
Beaded garlands were found to contain a “multitude of toxic contaminants”, while light strings consistently showed high levels of lead and bromine. Of the products tested, 13% contained lead above 100 parts per million (ppm). Twelve percent contained more than 800 ppm of bromine, indicating the presence of brominated flame retardants, which the Environmental Protection Agency has linked to developmental and reproductive issues.
According to the study’s researchers, home decorations are largely unregulated and may legally contain lead or phthalates, for example, in quantities prohibited in children’s products by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. As long as a product is not labeled as being intended for children, it is not subject to lead, cadmium or phthalate restrictions. ...
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable- ... are_btn_tw
