General Warning
If you ever see a label on any product that states Proposition 65 Warning: Use of this product will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm or Not intended for food use, heed the warning!
Paint
There is a federal regulation that bans specific uses of lead-based paint. The US Consumer Product safety Commission enforces this regulation.
• What is covered and should not contain lead:
- Products sold directly to consumers or which consumers use in homes, schools, hospitals, parks, playgrounds, and other areas
- Toys or other articles intended for use by children
- Furniture coated with paint such as beds, bookcases, chairs, chests, tables, dressers, and console televisions
• What isn't covered and may contain lead:
- Appliances such as ranges, refrigerators, and washers, fixtures such as built-in cabinets, window, and doors, and household products such as window shades and venetian blinds.
- Paints for boats and cars
• Exempt from regulation but require warning label:
- Coatings used to refinish industrial or agricultural equipment
- Building and equipment maintenance coatings
- Products marketed solely for use on billboards, road signs, and similar products
- Touch-up coatings for agricultural equipment, lawn and garden equipment, and appliances
- Catalyzed coatings marketed solely for use on radio-controlled model powered airplanes.
• Exempt but no warning label required:
- Mirrors with lead-containing backing paint
- Artists paints
- Metal furniture (other than children's furniture) that has a factory-applied coating that contains lead
http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/regsumleadpaint.pdf#search='lead%20in%20artists'%20paint
Paint sources
• Homes, daycare center, school, camp, relative or friend's home
Lead increases the durability of paint so it was most often used on home exteriors, window and door trim, in bathrooms, and kitchens. For houses built before 1978, and especially those built before 1950, chances are good that lead paint was used. Lead paint becomes hazardous only if it is cracking or chipping, if it is disturbed (a painted wall is torn down or cut), or if it is on a high-friction area that produces lead dust (like the insides of windows and doors). Because of friction when windows are opened and closed, window troughs and sills are a common place for lead dust to accumulate.
Helpful hints: Wipe window sills and troughs often with a damp rag. Simple, inexpensive procedures exist to cover over lead surfaces. Avoid placing food items or allowing pets to rest there. Find and fix the source of failing paint. Never dry scrape, dry sand, or use a heat gun over 1100° F on lead paint. This creates lead dust or lead fumes. Clean with wet mops and a HEPA filtration system vacuum cleaner. Change contaminated clothing and wash separately from children's clothing.
• Antique painted furniture (including cribs), buttons, hair ornaments
• Old painted toys
• Lead paint on kitchen utensils
• Imported painted toys
Beware of toys sold during the holidays, especially during Christmas. Many of these toys are imported from foreign countries and may contain lead. These include toys such as wooden trains, toy soldiers, toy nutcrackers, and metal baby carriages.
http://www.seriaz.org/downloads/Lead_info.pdf#search='lead%20poisoning%20pipe%20organ'
• Automobiles primers and topcoats
• Marine primers and topcoats
Red Lead Paint : Used on metal surfaces to inhibit rust. Teamac brand says the following, "Yes it is available and we stock it! No, contrary to what many people express it is not a banned product. The paint manufacturer has to pay a heavy duty to the Government to produce it. On my own boat I give two coats to all metal with this then two coats of Hammerite. In the past three years I have no rust to talk about."
• Road-marking paint
• Playground equipment
• Industrial paints
Lead was banned from residential paints in 1978 by the federal government, but it is still allowed in industrial, marine, and bridge paint. Fortunately, many owners no longer use lead paint on bridges and other structures.
• Paint used on steel bridges
Since lead-based paint inhibits rusting and corrosion on iron and steel, it has been used on bridges and other steel structures. It is estimated that more than 90,000 bridges - many in need of repairs - in the United States are coated with lead paint. Lead dust and fumes are released into the air whenever lead paint is disturbed during maintenance, reconstruction, and demolition of bridges and other steel structures.
• Artist's Paints and Supplies
Lead is found in very few art materials, namely in certain ceramic glazes, flake white oil color and lead chromate colors in both oil and water colors. Flake white is an oil color, which some adult artists feel is essential in preparing an oil canvas to give the permanence necessary for a work of art and for which there is no substitute. Because of this fact, flake white was exempted from the ban on lead in paint under the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Act. However, it still must be labeled with health, cautionary and safe use information. Lead chromate colors are found in traditional artists color ranges and contain low levels of soluble lead. Many pastels contain asbestos, contaminated talc, lead and cadmium pigments. http://www.leadsafe.org/Parents/Sources/lead&art.html
Pigments containing lead or arsenic have long been recognized as being dangerous. This group includes flake white or Cremnitz white (made of lead carbonate), Naples yellow (when made of lead antimoniate pigment), the chrome yellows (made of lead chromate), chrome green (made of mixtures containing lead chromate), cobalt violet (when it contains cobalt arsenate) and greens such as Schweinfurt green, emerald green, Paul Veronese green or Paris green (when made of arsenic compounds such as copper acetoarsenite). Since 1975 many reports have called attention to the possible dangerous effects of pigments containing cadmium, chromium, manganese, and mercury. These colors include the cadmium reds, cadmium yellows, cadmium orange, viridian and chrome oxide opaque, manganese blue, manganese violet, burnt and raw umber, and vermilion (mercuric sulfide).
Pigments can enter the painter's body if they get into the artist's mouth, if they penetrate the skin through cuts and scratches, or if the painter inhales them. If artists frequently absorb pigments by any of these methods, they may develop various levels of health problems. http://www.noteaccess.com/MATERIALS/ToxicityPigmt.htm
Old Holland Classic Oils are packed in soft lead tubes with a thin layer of pewter, as opposed to an aluminum tube which oxidizes within 15 years. "Lead tubes last a lifetime," the company boasts.
Helpful hint: The CP (Certified Product), AP (Approved Product), and HL Health Label (Non-Toxic) Seals identify art materials that are safe and that are certified in a toxicological evaluation by a medical expert to contain no materials in sufficient quantities to be toxic or injurious to humans, including children, or to cause acute or chronic health problems.
Avoid inhalation: When using the pigments in the form of dry powders, handle them with care so as to avoid raising a great deal of pigment dust. Keep yourself and work areas free of dust from pastels. Keep scraped paint particles out food, off skin, and out of lungs. If you use spray cans or air compressor sprayers, the finely divided pigment in the sprays can remain in the air, be inhaled, and can drift onto food or dishes closeby. If you burn paint, the fumes can be dangerous. Wear a NIOSH approved respirator if there will a lot of dust, spray, or fumes generated. Use damp cloths and mops for cleaning. Wash dirty cloths separate from childrens' clothes.
Avoid ingestion: Keep cigarettes, food, and drinks far from work areas. Never place paint brushes in your mouth or painted paint brush handles ( in 1992 Grumbacher recalled paint brushes because their handles were coated with lead-based paint.) Wash all supplies away from food preparation areas. Scrub hands thoroughly.
Avoid absorption: K eep paint and pigments away from skin. Undesirable pigments can be absorbed through breaks in the skin, and some can cause allergic responses or dermatitis (inflammation of the skin.) If you have cuts or blisters on your hands and must handle colors keep the cuts bandaged or wear disposable gloves .
http://www.noteaccess.com/MATERIALS/ToxicityPigmt.htm
Paint driers
Black oil is a fast drying medium made from linseed oil and lead oxide, historically significant for icon painting and other historical painting techniques. Gel-painting medium combines drying oil with mastic varnish.
Varnish
Soil
Soil may contain lead due to
• Deposits from the air from industrial sources. Burning coal and petroleum releases lead to the air.
• Some previous use that involved lead products
• Some current use, like an auto body shop, hobbies that use lead, etc.
• Lead paint chipping off a building or structure
• Remnants of leaded gasoline(the USA stopped using leaded gasoline in the 1980s and Mexico in 1996. Soil may still contain lead.)
• Pesticide and/or herbicide use
• Natural geological sources
The best crops to plant are fruiting crops such as tomatoes, squash, peppers, okra, cucumbers, peas, beans and corn. These plants take up very little, if any, contaminants in the parts we eat. Root crops, such as carrots, beets and potatoes, can take up arsenic and lead from the soil. Most of the contamination can be removed by peeling the skin off root vegetables before eating. Even after peeling, a small amount of the chemicals will remain in the flesh of the root vegetable. L eafy greens , such as lettuce, spinach, beet greens and herbs, can absorb lead into the plant. The surface can get contaminated with lead from the dust or soil that settles on leaf surfaces.
Helpful hints: Avoid growing edible plants, like leafy or root vegetables, in contaminated soils, especially near roadways or near houses with chipping lead-based paint. Test your soil. To reduce plant uptake of lead and arsenic:
- Grow crops in raised beds
- Add topsoil and store-bought compost to your garden soil to dilute the amount of contaminants.
- Adjust the pH of the soil to neutral, 6.5-7.0 (for acidic soils, add lime.)
- Throw away peelings, plants, grass clippings, and leaves. Do not make compost from them.
Soil or dust that has lead or arsenic may stick to fruits, vegetables, shoes, hands, and clothes.
- Wash all homegrown or store-bought foods well before you eat them a 1% vinegar solution, soapy water or a commercial vegetable-cleaning product.
• Scrub and peel root vegetables (like carrots or potatoes) before you cook or eat them.
• Wash hands as soon as you are done working in the garden or yard. Avoid eating while in the garden.
• Take off or wipe your shoes before going into your home.
• Wash dirty clothes separate from other laundry after yard work or gardening.
• Wash toys and pets often.
Back to TopPets
Animals can carry lead dust in their fur which can easily be transferred to anyone handling them. Wash often!
Tobacco, Cigarette Smoke, and Ash
Lead is present in tobacco volatilizes during the burning of
the cigarette. The most common way lead gets into tobacco is through
arsenate pesticides. Approximately 5% of this lead may be inhaled; the
remainder occurs in the ash and side-stream smoke (Mussalo-Rauhamaa et al.,
1986).
http://www.seriaz.org/downloads/Lead_info.pdf#search='lead%20poisoning%20pipe%20organ'
Helpful hints: Make a pledge to only smoke outdoors.
Vinyl products (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC)
Lead is used as a stabilizer in PVC. When PVC is exposed to sunlight, it begins to break down and produce lead dust that can be inhaled or passed from fingers to mouth. Chewing on vinyl items can also expose us to lead.
• Telephone cords
• Vinyl-coated Electrical wires
• X-Mas light wires and artificial trees
• Some children's toys (soft vinyl PVC products)
Health Canada issued an advisory about soft vinyl plastic toys that could be sucked or chewed on by a very young child for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis, thus exposing the child to surface lead, if any. While some of these products were found to contain lead, the majority of the tested products were found to not have extractable lead that exceeded the international standard of 90 ppm lead. http://www.leadpoisoningnews.com/whatis.html
• Shower curtains
• Rain jackets or boots
• Imported miniblinds: Millions of non-glossy vinyl miniblinds, that have lead added to stabilize the plastic in the blinds, are imported each year from China , Taiwan , Mexico , and Indonesia . Studies have found that over time the plastic deteriorates from exposure to sunlight and heat to form lead dust on the surface of the blind. The amount of lead dust that formed from the deterioration varied from blind to blind. When purchasing miniblinds, make sure the label states "new formulation," "non-leaded formula," "no lead added," or "new! non-leaded vinyl formulation." New blinds without lead should sell in the same price range as the old blinds at about $5 to $10 each. Older blinds, made before 1997, are especially suspect for lead.
• Garden hoses: Lead leaching into hose water can come from the vinyl (PVC) material used to make the hose or from brass nozzles on hoses. In sunshine, lead in hose water is a particular concern, as heat can cause hoses to leach even higher levels of lead. Because of an August 2004 settlement, hose companies have agreed to reformulate their products to reduce lead exposures below California 's Prop 65 standard by 2007. In addition, any hoses that could cause exposures above the standard carries a prominent warning label reading, "Do not drink water from this hose. Wash hands after use." http://www.cehca.org/news.htm
Helpful hints:
When you buy a hose, choose one labeled safe for drinking. With any hose, flush it by letting the water run for a minute or so before you drink. Avoid purchasing vinyl items when possible or make sure box states that no lead additives were used. Wash hands after handling vinyl products.
From Consumer Report, May 2003:
SAFE FOR DRINKING (as labeled)
Gardener’s Supply Co. 33-469
Teknor Apex Boat & Camper Self-straightening
Swan Marine/Camper
Better Homes and Gardens Kink-free
NOT SAFE FOR DRINKING (as labeled)
Colorite Plastics Mainstays Light Duty
Colorite WaterWorks Light Duty
Gilmour Flexogen 7169657
Swan Fairlawn Reinforced
Gilmour Flexogen 10-5805GY
Swan Heavy Duty Soft & Supple
NOT SAFE FOR DRINKING (not labeled)
Teknor Apex Light Duty
Teknor Apex Mainstays Medium Duty
Companion 7169022
Craftsman 7169612
Teknor Apex Heavy Duty
Craftsman 7169212
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/health-fitness/get-the-lead-out-of-the-garden-hose-503/overview/index.htm
• Vinyl Siding: According to the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI) , "none of the vinyl siding produced in North America is manufactured with lead, nor does it contain cadmium ." The VSI has instituted a certification process to confirm that manufacturers are meeting the ASTM standard which states, "Certified vinyl siding shall not contain elemental lead or cadmium or compounds of these materials other than traces incidental to raw materials or the manufacturing process." When I asked how they were verifying that siding was lead free, I was told that they use a LeadCheck or similar swab test. These are NOT approved by EPA. I mentioned that a lab analysis or XRF reading would be the approved way and I was told that would be "overkill" since they were testing products that they were fairly certain had no lead. Hmmm, I'll let you judge that one.
The only other reference to the use of lead stabilizers in siding was as follows, " The principal metals from which stabilizers are made include tin, barium, zinc, calcium and, decreasingly, lead and cadmium." No one is able to tell me when or if lead was used and when this practice ended. http://www.vinylinfo.org/pressmaterials/factsheets/glad.html#additives
Helpful hint: To check your own siding, use
a LeadCheck swab, available in hardware stores ($4 for 2 swabs)
but
know that these tests are not 100% accurate; however, this is the same test
used to certify a siding product.
Imported siding may have lead. Look for this symbol to buy "certified" siding.
Vinyl Siding Institute: Info line: 1-888-FOR-VSI-1, or www.vinylsiding.org
For a list of certified products: http://www.archtest.com/vsi/
Recall Requested due to Lead in Vinyl Lunch Boxes
In
2005, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) bought and tested 150 soft
vinyl lunchboxes. Approximately 10% contained high levels of lead. Some of
theses featured children's characters such as Superman, Tweety Bird,
Powerpuff Girls, and Hamtaro. The level of lead in an Angela Anaconda box,
made by Targus International, was more than 90 times the legal limit for
lead in paint in children's products. Tests on other lunch boxes showed
levels of lead between two and twenty-five
times the legal limit. Most
often, the highest lead levels were found in the linings. CEH is calling on
these companies to recall these products and take action to eliminate lead
from their products in the future.
Children may be exposed to lead from lunch boxes when they eat food that has been stored in them. Handling the lunchboxes just before eating could also be an exposure risk. CEH advises parents to avoid vinyl lunch boxes and suggests reusable cloth bags instead. Parents can test for lead in their children's lunch boxes using LeadCheck swabs (sold at Lowes or online at www.leadcheck.com) or PACE's Lead Alert.
For more information, go to www.cehca.org/lunchboxes.htm or call CHEJ at 1 (800) 652-0827.
Some brands that have tested high. (Not all lunchboxes with this brand name necessarily contain lead):Generation Sports, Frozn/Ingear, Roundhouse/Targus, Crayola, American Studio, Igloo, Sanford, Fast Forward, Arizona Jean Company, JC Penny, Lisa Frank, Animations/Accessory Network, Holiday Fair/Mischief Makers, Extreme Gear/Romar, SubZero/Global Advantage, Chill, Big Dogs, Childress baby bottle carriers, Innovo, East End Accessories/Worldwide Dreams.
Soon after this, Consumer Product Safety Commission tested samples of children's lunch boxes for accessible lead and found no instances of hazardous levels. They tested inside and outside of each lunch box and the preliminary results were consistently below one microgram of lead, an extremely low level of lead and would not present a health hazard to children.
Back to TopTattoo Ink
Nine tattoo ink and pigment manufacturers were sued in August 2004 for allegedly exposing people to potentially dangerous levels of lead and other metals. The American Environmental Safety Institute, which filed the suit, is asking for an order to require warnings on the products before they can be sold or applied to a customer's skin. Health risks are widespread, with at least 16 percent of Americans having one or more tattoos. Thirty-six percent of adults ages 25-29 reportedly have at least one tattoo.
Most tattoo inks technically aren't inks. They are composed of pigments that are suspended in a carrier solution. Today's pigments are usually not vegetable dyes, rather they are metal salts. However, some pigments are plastics and there are probably some vegetable dyes too. The pigment provides the color of the tattoo.
The carrier keeps the pigment evenly distributed in a fluid matrix, inhibits the growth of pathogens, prevents clumping of pigment, and aids in application to the skin. When alcohol is used in the ink or to disinfect the skin's surface, it makes skin more permeable and allows more chemicals to cross into the bloodstream.
Manufacturers of inks and pigments are not required to reveal the contents - the information is proprietary (trade secrets). A professional who mixes his or her own inks from dry pigments will be most likely to know the composition of the inks. Check out the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any pigment or carrier. The MSDS won't be able to identify all chemical reactions or risks associated with chemical interactions within the ink or the skin, but it will give some basic information about each component of the ink. Pigments and tattoo inks are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Many inks mix one or more pigment. For a table listing the colors of common pigments used in tattoo inks, go to: http://chemistry.about.com/library/weekly/aa121602a.htm (Pb=lead, Cd= cadmium, Hg=mercury)
Back to TopHair dye
Lead acetate is used as a color additive in "progressive" hair dye products such as Grecian Formula. These products are applied over a period of time to achieve a gradual coloring effect. Tests on people who used these products under controlled conditions showed they had "no significant increase in blood levels of lead" and the lead was not shown to be absorbed into the body through such use. The FDA therefore allows this ingredient but requires the following caution statement on product labels:
Caution: Contains lead acetate. For external use only. Keep this product out of children's reach. Do not use on cut or abraded scalp. If skin irritation develops, discontinue use. Do not use to color mustaches, eyelashes, eyebrows, or hair on parts of the body other than the scalp. Do not get in eyes. Follow instructions carefully and wash hands thoroughly after use.
Consumers can determine if lead acetate is used in a particular hair dye product by reviewing the product ingredient declaration appearing on the label of the cosmetic package.
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-lead.html
Helpful hints: To ensure safe use of these products, it is important that consumers follow the directions carefully. While considered safe for use by adults, keep away from children.
Back to TopHenna
The henna plant is a small shrub that exists naturally in Western Asia and North Africa. The leaves are picked, dried and ground to create powdered henna. Henna naturally comes in only one color (reddish) but it can be combined with other natural plant dyes to produce other colors called Henna Rangs. What to avoid are Compound Henna Dyes, which are hair dyes made with henna, plus other plant dyes mixed with metallic salts. Many “henna colors” are created with metallic salts. The most frequently used material is lead acetate, though silver nitrate, copper, nickel, cobalt, bismuth and iron salts have also been used. Dyes with lead acetate gradually deposit a mixture of lead sulfide and lead oxide on the hair shaft. When you hear that henna has “metal”, “lead”, or “coats the hair” and “leaves it brittle”, that refers to a compound henna dye. Hair bleach, permanent hair color, and permanent wave solution are not a good combination with compound henna dyes. These can result in green, purple, or totally fried hair. Natural henna does NOT have metals, lead, nor does it “coat the hair”. http://www.hennaforhair.com/science/whatsinit.html
The coloring agent in the henna leaves is called lawsone. Aside from the issue of lead, in 2001 the European Union’s “Scientific Committee on Cosmetic products” evaluated several studies on the substance and concluded that “lawsone was not suitable for use as a non-oxidising colouring agent for hair dyeing” and gave lawsone a classification 2A: the available data support the conclusion that the substance constitutes a health hazard (SCCNFP 2002b). They also classified lawsone as a category 3: mutagen (SCCNFP 2002b). “The Scientific Committee evaluating the studies concluded that lawsone had a genotoxicity/mutagenicity potential and that therefore no safe threshold for lawsone could be established (SCCNFP 2004). A study by L’Oreal showed that 0.4% lawsone entered from the skin to the bloodstream. Other scientists think this is a low estimate. http://www.hennapage.com/journal/issue_I/article_5/page1.html
Helpful hints: Buy body art quality henna and mix it yourself!
To find out if the henna hair dye you've been using contains toxic metallic salts:
1. Harvest some of your hair.
2. Mix one ounce (30 ml) of 20-volume peroxide and 20 drops of 28% ammonia.
3. Put your harvested hair in the peroxide-ammonia mix (this is in synthetic
hair dye). If there's lead in the henna you've used, your hair will change
color immediately. If there's silver nitrate in the henna you've been using,
there will be no change in hair color, because silver is coating the hair.
However, silver nitrate leaves a greenish cast to your hair, so you can tell
by that. If there's copper in the henna you've used, your hair will start
to boil, the hair will be hot and smell horrible, and the hair will
disintegrate.
http://www.hennaforhair.com/science/whatsinit.html
Inexpensive Jewelry (trinkets, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, metallic hair accessories, big finger rings)
Inexpensive children's jewelry can contain high amounts of lead, which poses a risk if toddlers, young children or teens suck or chew on it. Lead tastes sweet and appeals to children. A survey of inexpensive jewelry - a range of items costing less than $20 - found 70% contained lead! A similar nationwide survey in Canada revealed that 66 of the 95 samples collected had a lead content ranging from 50% to 100%. Ingesting even low amounts of lead may have harmful health effects on the intellectual and behavioral development of infants and young children.
The US recalled 150 million pieces of toy jewelry from vending machines in early July 2004 because half contained dangerous levels of lead. Action was taken after a four-year-old Oregon boy nearly died from swallowing a 25-cent pendant made with 39 per cent lead. The recall was extended to Canada Items are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and may be metal plated or coated with enamel. These items are exceptionally dangerous if the coating wears off, is broken or scratched. Even handling leaded jewelry can be risky if children put their hands in their mouths without washing them.
Although no U.S. standard exists for lead content in children's jewelry, it's illegal for an item to have accessible lead that is deemed hazardous.
The state of California is suing 13 major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, and Sears for failing to warn customers of hazardous levels of lead found in numerous brands of costume jewelry marketed to young children and teenagers. Tests found levels of lead "well above" those requiring consumer warnings.
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/protection/warnings/2001/2001_02e.htm
Recalled jewelry
•
In
September 2005, the Consumer Product safety Commision (CPSC) recalled
several necklace and earring
set s for high lead content. The flower set features a floral design in four color variations: yellow, orange, pink and purple. The purse, necklace and earring set features a dangling purse charm in black, red, blue, orange, pink or purple. The corded swirl necklace and earring set features a twisted metal swirl pattern hanging from a black, blue or purple cord. The faux amber necklace and earring set features a large faux amber gem cut in a heart or cross shape. The 5-strand bead necklace and earring set were sold in four color variations: orange, purple, blue and multi-color. These were sold at Dollar General Stores nationwide from May 2005 through August 2005 for between $1 and $3 and were manufactured in China . Consumers should take the recalled jewelry away from children immediately and return to Dollar General stores for a refund. For additional information, contact Dollar General at (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.dollargeneral.com
• In September, 2005, the CPSC recalled Disney
Princess Bracelet Keyrings for high levels of lead. The "Bracelet
Keyring" is a
pink
plastic keyring attached to a bracelet which consists of pink and white
beads or red and white beads, a metal pendant and metal dividers between the
beads. It was sold under the brand Disney Princess. "Item #24405" and "Made
in China " are printed on the back of the packaging. It was sold at various
retailers including Walgreen and Wal-Mart nationwide from November 2003
through June 2005 for about $3. Consumers should take these recalled
bracelet keyrings away from children immediately and return them to Monogram
International for a refund. Contact Monogram International at (800) 736-1941
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit their Web site
at
www.monogramdirect.com to receive instructions for returning the
keyrings.
• Necklaces with a heart-shaped silver-colored medallion on a dark blue string. The medallion is embossedwith daisies. The necklace, including the medallion, is 14 1/2 inches in length.
• In May 2005, there was a recall on heart-shaped pendants that are silver-colored, ribbed on the front,hollow on the back, and hang on a pink suede cord with a silver-colored clasp. They are made in China and were sold at Dollar General stores nationwide from May 2003 through April 2005 for about $1. Consumers should take these necklaces away from children immediately and return them to Dollar General stores for a refund. Call (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site at www.dollargeneral.com .
• 
In March 2005, metal charms were recalled. CPSC received a
report of a six- year-old girl who mouthed these charms worn on a homemade
necklace and developed elevated lead levels in her blood that may be related
to the charms. The recalled metal charms are sold in packages which
contained 2-12 pieces and are marked "The Card ConnectionT,"
"Charming ThoughtsT" and "Hirschberg Schutz & Co. Inc." Most of the
charms are silver-colored with small silver loops and are various shapes
including small hearts, crowns, birds, picture frames, perfume bottles and a
cross. Some of the metal charms have small blue, pink or yellow stones and
are printed with words including "princess," "congratulations," "city girl,"
"world traveler" and "life's blessings." "Insert photo here," "cherish,"
"love," and "honor" are printed on the picture frame charms. The metal
charms were sold as decorations for place cards, greeting cards, collages,
memory boxes, gift cards, scrapbooks, invitations and gift bags. The charms
also can be attached to necklaces and bracelets. These were sold at Michaels
Stores from July 2002 through February 2005, at Recollections stores from
October 2004 through February 2005, and at Hancock Fabrics stores from
January 2004 through January 2005 for between $3 to $4. All of the charms
were manufactured in China . Consumers should immediately take these metal
charms away from children and contact Hirschberg Schutz & Co. at (800)
651-0616 anytime to receive a refund. Consumers also can e-mail the firm at
charmsrecall@horizongroupusa.com for more information.
• In January 2005, there was a recall on children's
bracelets , made in China , which have heart, oval, and rectangular
shaped
charms
that have the phrases; "I like sports," "I like movies," "I like shopping"
and "I like music" printed on them. The bracelet also contains various
colored plastic trinkets. They were sold at Belk, Bloomingdales, Carson
Pirie Scott, Kohl's, Parisians and Proffitts Department stores nationwide
from October 2003 through November 2004 for about $6. Consumers should
immediately take these bracelets away from young children and contact the
company to receive a refund. Call Riviera toll-free at (800) 524-0110
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
Helpful hints: Avoid purchasing and discourage children from sucking on any questionable jewelry.
Back to TopBrass Items
Brass is a metal alloy meaning it is a mixture of more than one metal. Brass is made of copper and zinc. Lead is a natural contaminant in zinc because the two are mined together from the earth.
• Bells
• Faucets and Fittings
Sand-cast faucets and other plumbing components have traditionally been made from leaded red or semi-red brasses. The most common plumbing brass, C84400 (also known as 81 Metal or 81-3-7-9) contains nominally 7% lead. The most popular red brass, C83600 (85 Metal, 85-5-5-5), contains nominally 5% lead. Lead is added to plumbing brasses to improve machinability and ensure pressure tightness. Without the machinability enhancement made possible by lead, brass plumbing products could be prohibitively expensive due to very high machining costs.
Research shows that a combination of bismuth and
selenium provides the same beneficial effect on machinability as does lead.
In addition, pressure tightness and other casting characteristics of
bismuth/selenium brasses were found to be virtually identical to those in
conventional leaded alloys. Trace amounts of lead may still be present but
concentrations low enough to pass the requirements of NSF Standard 61 for
most plumbing devices.
http://www.performancemeter.com/10/f/sebiloy.html
Brass or copper musical instruments
• Car Keys
Brass is a soft metal so lead is added to give keys more strength. Some keys have a silver-colored nickel coating over top the brass, but this wears away. Sucking on car keys is dangerous. Even handling car keys can leave lead on one's hands. Not all keys are brass - some are aluminum and are lighter weight.
Helpful hints: Never give a child real car keys or brass items to play with. Adults should wash hands after handling keys or other brass items, especially if pregnant.
Back to TopRecall
due to lead in metal
Decorative Snaps and Metal Clips
Manufactured in China by Provo Craft, of Spanish Fork, Utah, the recalled clips and snaps contain high levels of lead. The recall involves the “Rob and Bob Studio Clip-Ease” metal clips with model numbers 28-1084, 28-1085 and 28-1086 and the “Rob and Bob Studio Snap-Ease” snaps with model number 28-1080. The product name and model number can be found on the packaging. These were sold at scrapbook stores and craft retailers nationwide from August 2005 through October 2006 for about $6. Contact Provo Craft for instructions on how to obtain a full refund. For additional information, please contact Provo Craft at (800) 955-9490 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT, Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.recall.provocraft.com
Pewter Items
Pewter is a metal alloy, which means it is a combination of more than one metal. Depending on its use, pewter may be composed of various amounts of tin, antimony, bismuth, copper, and/or lead. Over the years, these combinations have varied greatly. Through the mid 17 th century, there were two grades of pewter: Fine pewter and Lay metal or trifles. Fine pewter was used for flatware - plates, chargers etc. and also for important flagons and for spoons. Its composition was approximately: Tin 96-98%, Copper 1-4%, Lead <1%, Bismuth <0.5%.
Lay metal was used for hollowware - measures and similar utensils. This was supposed to contain at least 80% tin alloyed with lead. However analyses of hollowware yielded the following composition: Tin 60-70%, Lead 30-40%, Tin <1%, Bismuth <0.03%.
Today's Pewter alloy is comprised mainly of tin. To meet American Pewter standards, it must contain 92% tin. Older pewters are usually very dark gray with tarnishing (lead tarnishes easily.) Modern pewters do not contain enough metals that tarnish as easily, and therefore seldom need to be polished.
http://www.megalink.net/~sjcphp/Pewter.html , http://www.dmgovan.com/?page=what_is
Back to TopMachined Steel
Steel manufacturers add lead to steel when producing steel bars to make them easier to cut and shape. The steel bars are sent to machine shops, where machinists create screws, cogs, flywheels and other parts for machines. The most common use for the steel is in automobile parts. An estimated 3 million tons of leaded steel, mainly a grade known as 12L14, are used by the nation's 700 machine shops each year. Under a car or in an engine, for instance, threaded fittings and all the long rods with machined ends are made of machining steel. Leaded steel is a small percentage of all steels - approximately 3%.
Somewhere in history, lead became a key ingredient in steel that could be easily machined without rapidly wearing out cutting tools. Scientists have found that tin, which is less toxic than lead, can have this same beneficial effect and have created lead-free or green steel. http://www.postgazette.com/healthscience/19990719steel1.asp
Back to TopRoofing and Prefabricated Building Materials
• Metal Roofs, Metal Building material
Metal roofs are made of steel coated with "galvalume" to prevent corrosion. Galvalume is 55% aluminum, 43.4% zinc, 1.6% silicon. After that, the roof is coated with a colored resin based fluorocarbon or fluoropolymer finish (paint), like Kynar or Trinar. Many prefabricated metal buildings are made using the same process as that for metal roofs. Lead may be present, depending on the color used and the manufacturer. Akzo Nobel's paint chemist told me they try not to use lead in their paints but if a customer requests a particular color, lead pigments may be the only option. After discussion, if the customer gives the okay, leaded pigments will be used. Colors most likely to contain lead are bright yellows and oranges. Sometimes you'll find lead in bright reds. Usually you will not find lead in earth tones like brown, black, grey, green, or barn red. Copper roofing was soldered with lead, probably still is. If you are unsure, find out who supplied the metal panels and ask the building/roof maker about lead content. (Akzo Nobel 614-294-3361 )
That
said, on the web is a company from England, Sharp's Leadwork, that states "
Established in 2003, we are a relatively new company specializing in lead
roofing and lead applications. We pride ourselves on using traditional
methods to work the lead as well as embracing new technology. Our work
comprises of sandcast lead and milled lead applications." Here is one of
their workers without gloves.
• Flashing
Lead flashing is used around vent pipes and roof drains because it withstands hot temperatures. Lead-coated copper flashing as well as lead flashing is used around masonry.
• Roofing nails
Lead is used in the roofing nails that have the rubber washers. The heads of the nails are pure lead. The lead is soft and designed to flatten when hit to create a seal. These are used on metal roofs.
• Gutters
Some copper gutters are lead coated.
Back to TopGlass
• Lead Crystal Glasses, decanters & pitchers
Lead crystal is also called crystal, flint glass or lead glass and is a soft, fusible, lustrous, brilliant lead-oxide optical glass with high refraction and low dispersion. An Englishman of the early 1600's added lead oxide to molten glass, thereby increasing its luster, brilliance, and refractive potential. The lead made the glass optically denser (more resistant to light rays passing through it). The rays bent as they passed through the lead glass, creating spectrums of pure color and brilliant reflected light. Acidic juices & wines stored in leaded crystal will become contaminated with lead.
Swarovski crystal beads and components are leaded crystal. These products should not be used for children’s jewelry. http://www.halsteadbead.com/Lead_Hazard.doc
Helpful hint: Never store liquids in lead crystal glasses or bottles, drink from lead crystal on a daily basis, (especially if you are pregnant!), or feed an infant or child from a lead crystal baby bottle or cup.
• Optical Glass (for lenses)
Because of its sophisticated processing and high lead content, lead crystal optical glass is more pure and radiant than lead crystal. Optical glass is unsurpassed in its ability to gather and transmit light. It is used in telescope lenses and in laser technologies, as well as in optic fiber cables that transmit light hundreds of feet even miles - with no loss of intensity. It is also sometimes used by sculptors. Some optical crystal is lead free.
Back to Top
Antiques
• Painted furniture
• Painted or metal toys
• Brass or copper musical instruments
• Old crayons
• Old pewter items
• Coins (We tested a 4th century Roman coin, AD 348, and found 84.5% copper and 11.7% lead)
Back to TopPiano Keys
As the piano developed, the weight of the hammers increased in order to produce more volume. To keep the touch weight of the keys the same as it was in the instrument with light hammers, lead weights were inserted into the piano keys. The most commonly used method is to insert cylindrical lead weights into the piano key. These are placed in the front-end of the key when the touch weight is too large and in the rear-end of the key, if the touch weight is too small. More lead weights are usually needed in the lower registers where the hammers are larger. To see these lead weights, depress a key in the low bass register and look at the side of the neighboring key, e.g. the wood part that is under the plastic or ivory keytop. Usually you will see a number of small round lead weights embedded in the side of the key.
There may be exposure when key leads are changed or piano keys are leveled using these weights. Wear gloves when handling. Shaving key leads produces lead shavings. Wear respiratory protection .
Back to TopGlazes
Lead is used in some hobby and artists ceramic glazes because it is required to allow glazes to mature at lower kiln temperatures, to fire properly in kilns without precise firing temperatures, to prevent cracking, to provide certain colors not otherwise attainable, and to withstand repeated dishwasher use. Thus, lead is essential to providing a high quality, safe glaze, and no other ingredient supplies the same effects. "Food safe" glazes containing lead, if fired to cone 06 (1,830 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher, will comply with the FDA safety requirements for lead release from finished articles. To assure that glazes initially labeled as food safe continue to be so, manufacturers test the lead release of articles finished with these glazes before every formula change, then periodically using the FDA testing method. Glazes that are labeled as food safe should not release lead over the limits established by the FDA standard for food safe.
However, lead-free glazes, including some food-safe glazes, have been developed for use in institutions and by consumers such as children who need a glaze that requires no precautions during its use. According to ACMI 's toxicologist, lead-containing hobby glazes should be used only by individuals who are capable of following safe use instructions; if supervision is required (such as in elementary schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and mental institutions), non-toxic, lead-free hobby glazes should be used.
http://www.leadsafe.org/Parents/Sources/lead&art.html
• Bathtubs: Many fixtures, such as bathtubs, contain as much as 88% lead in the glaze. As late as 1995 some manufacturers were continuing to use lead in the glaze for their cast iron, porcelain, and steel enamel tubs. If the enamel finish is cracked or worn down, lead dust may be produced or lead may leach into bath water.
Helpful hints: Although lead is not absorbed through the skin, children do often drink bath water - repair any chipped glaze in old tubs.
• Ceramicware
Since 1980, FDA has had limits on lead and cadmium in ceramic ware products. The limits were lowered in 1991 to reduce consumer exposure to lead in food from ceramic dishes that may have lead glazes. Most ceramic ware items sold in the United States meet current FDA limits because manufactures tightly control the way they make dishes to minimize the potential for lead to leach into food.
Although most crafts people in the United States are very aware of lead issues and work hard to make their products lead safe, hand-crafted ceramics may pose a risk because of uneven quality control or the ceramics firing practices used. If you are concerned, talk to crafts people whenever possible about this issue.
Potential risk factors include:
1. China handed down from a previous generation. These heirlooms were made before lead was recognized as a hazard.
2. Home-made or handcrafted china , either from the U.S. or abroad, unless you are sure the maker used a lead-free glaze or high-temperature, commercial firing practices.
3. Highly decorated, multi-colored inside surfaces (the part that touches the food and drink).
4. Decorations on top of the glaze instead of beneath it. Can you feel the decoration when you rub your fingers over it? When you hold the piece at an angle to the light, can you see brush strokes above the transparent glaze surface? Has the decoration begun to wear away?
5. Corroded glaze , or a dusty or chalky grey residue on the glaze after the piece has been washed. THIS TYPE OF CHINA COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS. STOP USING IT AT ONCE.
Any combination of factors 1 through 4 deserves particular attention. Factor 5, which could indicate extreme danger, is fortunately quite rare.
Helpful hints: To avoid possible exposure
to lead from ceramics and other tableware, do not store food in any dishes
that may contain lead or in antiques or collectibles. Be wary of using food
or beverages stored in highly decorated or metallic-coated tableware,
particularly items made in other countries or by amateurs and hobbyists.
Pregnant women should limit their use of lead-glazed mugs or cups for hot
beverages, since lead is harmful to fetuses. Don't heat or microwave
suspicious china. Many manufacturers of tableware maintain toll-free
telephone numbers for consumers to call if they have questions about their
product. To obtain a manufacturer's phone number, contact the information
operator for toll-free numbers at (800) 555-1212 .
http://www.nsc.org/issues/lead/leadindishes.htm
Annieglass - (888) 761-0050
Corning - (800) 999-3436
Dansk - (800) BY-DANSK
Dudson Group (USA) - (919) 877-0200
Homer Laughlin - (800) 452-4462
Lenox - (800) 635-3669
Mikasa - (866) MIKASA1
Pfaltzgraff - (800) 999-2811
Pickard - (847) 395-3800
Portmeirion - (203) 729-8255
Royal Doulton - (800) 682-4462
Spode - (800) 257-7189
Vietri - (800) 277-5933
Villeroy & Boch - (800) 223-1762
Waterford / Wedgwood - (800) 955-1550
Check your china's safety at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/994_LeadChina4.htm . This list, released jointly by the Attorney General of the State of California and Environmental Defense, gives the names of individual patterns of fine and everyday china that meet California 's stringent standards on lead exposure. Listing is by manufacturer, brand, and pattern. Federal standards are not as strict as California standards, and there's no reason not to take advantage of the most protective standard.
Check out this EXCELLENT web site: http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentid=952
• Imported Ceramics and Dinnerware: Suspect ceramic ware products entering the United States from
other countries can be automatically held at Customs until the importer or distributor can prove that the products meet FDA requirements. Sometimes, however, individuals bring ceramic ware items into the United States in personal baggage. These items may not be closely examined when they enter the country and may have a lead glaze or decoration that can allow high levels of lead to get into food.
If you ever see a label on a bowl or plate that says "Not intended for food use" or the Proposition 65 Warning, heed the warning. Almost all American and Canadian ceramics makers meet lead safety standards for glazes. In some imported ceramics from Mexico , China , Italy , Spain , India , Korea , Macao , Pakistan , Thailand etc., however, heavy lead leaching has caused severe lead poisoning.
• Glazed bean pots from Mexico
• Royal Norfolk plates , made in China , with a Christmas design (holly berries and leaves) with gold trim on the edge have been found to contain lead. Some have removable labels. Some have no labels. FDA requires non-removable labels. These are sold in Dollar Tree stores.
Helpful hint: Before buying imported ceramics to be used for food and drink ask (1) the supplier, (2) the maker, or (3) Food & Drug Administration (FDA) about the product's lead safety 1-800- INFO -FDA. To have your ceramics tested for lead, call the Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, 251-6104 . LeadCheck Swabs, sold at Lowes, 2 for $4, can also be helpful.
Ceramics
from China should be certified by the China National Certification and
Accreditation Administration which means the factory provided FDA with
reasonable assurance that ceramicware produced in th ese facilities and
exported to the United States will satisfy FDA action levels for leachable
lead and cadmium.. Retail cartons should bare this sticker: Actual Size,
Approximately 15mm, Blue on White "H" Sticker/Logo with Unique Factory Code.
For a current (5/05) list of certified ceramicware factories in China:http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/ceramic.html
• Ceramic Tile: Some glazes on ceramic tile (floor, wall & ceiling tiles) were found to contain lead. Glazes
were generally made with white lead and mixed with finely ground metallic oxides that provided the color. Colors included yellow from lead and antimony! These tiles were produced from many different countries around the world. http://www.leadpoisoningnews.com/whatis.html
Back to TopOrgan Pipes
http://www.seriaz.org/downloads/Lead_info.pdf#search='lead%20poisoning%20pipe%20organ'
Curtain Weights
Cars
• Car body Paint
• Clothing of body-shop workers
• Cars with deteriorating paint
• Soil underneath these cars
• Wheel Weights
Lead wheel weights falling off cars and trucks is an unregulated source of lead pollution in the U.S. On average, cars and light trucks have up to 10 wheel weights that range from 1/2 inch to 6 inches in length and from 1/4 ounce to 4 ounces in weight. Recent studies have documented that on average 13% of wheel weights fall off vehicles during driving. One study estimates that 3.3 million pounds of lead per year are deposited on urban roads in the United States . Lead wheel weights are actually very soft and when they fall off a vehicle they are rapidly abraded by traffic into smaller pieces, scattered into the wind as dust, washed into storm sewers and waterways, and picked up by shoes, animal paws, and bicycle tires. Weights made of zinc or steel are being promoted as a safer alternative to lead.
There is movement to have all auto manufacturers and tire retailers committed to phasing out the use of lead wheel-balancing weights in the U.S. by July 2006. Use of lead weights in Europe are to be banned starting in July 2005. http://www.leadfreewheels.org/release20050517tsca.shtml
• Lead-acid Batteries
In 1990, lead-acid storage batteries, used for motor vehicles, motive power and emergency back-up power, accounted for 80% of total lead consumption in the US .
• Used motor oil
Used motor oil can contain toxic substances such as benzene, lead, zinc, cadmium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and other heavy metals which are picked up from the engine.
Used motor oil can present a threat to health through skin contact, skin absorption, inhalation, or ingestion. Many of the problems associated with used motor oil are due to exposure to the heavy metals. These health problems are cumulative, so with each exposure to used motor oil the amount of heavy metals added to the body's system increases.
Helpful hints: Wear protective gloves; Store used motor oil away from children and sources of ignition. Place in a labeled container with a tight-fitting lid. Recycle used motor oil! Recycling removes metals. Do not put used motor oil in the trash, on the ground or down storm sewers, spray it on roads, or allow your car to leak oil. Do not burn used motor oil. When, burned, heavy metals quickly adsorb onto surrounding soil particles and contaminate the ground. Also, heavy metals and other contaminants can be released into the air, which may cause serious health and environmental problems.
http://youcan.toxicfreehomes.com/house1/motoroil.htm
• Radiators
Lead exposure is a significant problem of radiator repair work, a small industry that is abundant in Mexico and other developing countries.
• Gasoline for Closed-wheel racing cars, Piston-engine aircraft, Recreational boats, Construction equipment, and Farm machinery
Lead was banned for use in gasoline for transportation on January 1, 1996 . Because the above vehicles are considered "off road vehicles", they do not have to abide by the same gasoline restrictions as cars or "on-road vehicles". Although some use diesel fuel, others still use leaded gas or lead additive. Lead can be combined with organic chemicals to form lead compounds that are very different from metallic lead. The most common organic leads are alkyl-leads. Of these, the Tetraalkyllead compounds (Tetraethyllead [TEL] and Tetramethyllead [TML]) are the most common and have been used and are still in use primarily as a fuel additive to reduce "knock" in combustion engines.
Alkyl leads can enter our bodies when we breath fumes or exhaust. Unlike metallic lead, alkyl leads can also be absorbed through the skin.
Lead particles can remain airborne for some time following the initial introduction into the atmosphere. Therefore, residents in the vicinity of race tracks and general aviation airports where leaded gasoline is still being used as fuel may have an increased risk of lead exposure. Similarly, spectators at racing events or air shows may also be exposed to alkyl-lead emissions resulting from fueling or to lead compounds emitted as exhaust. Information to quantify the risk of these exposure pathways is not currently available.
Aviation fuel attendants, mechanics, and racing crew staff are also potentially exposed due to inhalation of alkyl-lead compounds during fueling, evaporative emissions from spills, or evaporative emissions from unused gasoline remaining in the engine or fuel tanks. Further, these populations may be at risk because of possible dermal absorption of gasoline containing alkyl-lead compounds. Again information to quantify the risk of these exposure pathways is not currently available. http://www.p2pays.org/ref/06/05724/
· NASCAR Fuel
NASCAR fuel contains lead. Attending races can expose fans to lead fumes. In December 2005, a draft EPA document titled Air Quality Criteria for Lead stated that leaded fuel may pose a serious risk to residents living in the vicinity of racetracks, fuel attendants, racing crew and staff, and spectators. For years, the EPA has urged NASCAR to quit leaded gas voluntarily. The industry claimed it was trying to find replacements, but also insisted the ones that were available lowered performance and harmed engines. But in January 2006, under pressure from Clean Air Watch, a Washington, DC-based environmental group, NASCAR finally relented. The industry will begin using a lead-free fuel made by Sunoco called 260 GTX by 2008.
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/114-5/focus.htmlSound insulation
Lead is a terrific acoustical barrier because it is limp and does not vibrate (much) and hence effectively blocks the sound as long as it is sealed airtight. There are some now made without lead but be cautious when removing any sound-proofing materials. There are many places you may find sound insulation: boat engine room soundproofing, RV,campers, mechanical sound insulation, soundproof generator enclosure, recording studio room soundproofing, music studio room, theater,home applications between floor levels and rooms, acoustic insulation for machinery,trucks, vans, new construction, businesses, theater surround sound insulation, boat carpet underlayment, boat headliner, marine sound damping,pool pump room soundproofing and any place there's excessive sound levels.
· Mineral Wool (or Rock Wool, Stone Wool)
Mineral wool insulation (for heat or sound) or filtering material manufactured before 1970 may contain lead particles. “According to industry sources, lead slag is no longer used in the manufacture of mineral wool, although lead can be present as a trace impurity." http://www.haz-map.com/leadfact.htm
Back to TopCaulk, sealants
These are used to prevent water damage on long seams, such as around windows, doors, sinks, tubs and showers. They can also be used to hide gaps in woodwork and fill long, narrow cracks in ceilings and walls.
Lead Putty and Putty Powder
This
lead putty is 90% lead, but is soft, like putty. The manufacturer says
"Also useful as a fishing line weight or behind a golf club head.
Marvelous stuff!" Yikes. Putty in general is a dough-like compound used
to fill in holes (from nails for example) and for surface defects or
open spaces. It is made of whiting (finely powdered calcium carbonate)
and boiled linseed oil. Other substances may be combined with the oil to
make putties suitable for some specific purpose. For example, red-lead
putty is a compound made of red and white oxides of lead mixed with
boiled linseed oil. This putty is used to seal pipe joints. White-lead
putty is a combination of whiting, white lead or lead oxide, and boiled
linseed oil. Putty hardens gradually when put in place, as along the
edges of window panes to fasten them, in cracks in plaster walls, and in crevices in wood and other substances. The linseed oil absorbs oxygen from the air and, holding fast the calcium carbonate or metallic oxides, causes the mixture to harden. The putty can become very brittle over the long life and crumble and flake.
A powder composed of a mixture of lead and tin oxides, known as putty powder, is extensively used in polishing. Putty is generally being replaced in many applications by caulking materials of butyl and silicone rubbers. The higher cost of these materials is offset by their greater durability. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A0840595.html
Helpful hints: Buy non-lead-based putty.
Back to TopCandles with metal in wicks
Lead can be absorbed by inhalation during the burning of candles with lead core wicks.
Not all candles are made with wicks that have metallic cores. The practice is primarily used with candles that are needed to burn longer such as scented or ceremonial candles. A metal core is used to provide rigidity to the wick which provides an even and slower burn rate, and to reduce the mushrooming at the tip. Since lead and its alloys melt at relatively low temperature, a large fraction of the wick core material is volatilized as the candle is burned.
Most candles containing lead core wicks came from the People's Republic of China . Candles made in Canada , United States , Mexico & Taiwan were also found to have lead core wicks but less often. Metal cores in Chinese candles were made of either pure lead or lead alloy Metal cores made in the United States or Mexico consisted of zinc or lead-containing alloys. Lead was detected in small quantities in emissions from zinc-based wicks, suggesting that the lead may be a common contaminant in the zinc, wick or wax. The levels of lead were small, but still may represent a health risk over a long period of time.
Helpful hints: Discard candles with lead cores. Before buying candles and to allow you to make an informed purchasing decision, you should ask the retailer if they contain a lead core wick. For candles already in your possession, you can tell if they have a lead core wick by following three easy steps:
• Remove any wax from the tip of the wick.
• Separate the fibre strands from the wick to see if the candle has a metallic core.
• If the candle has a metallic core, rub the core on a piece of white paper. If the mark left on the white paper is grey in colour, then the metallic core is probably lead.
• If you discover that your candle has a lead core wick, you should discard the candle using normal household garbage disposal procedures.
Back to TopImported Crayons
This is a good place to "buy American." So many Chinese crayons and chalks are contaminated with lead that it is impossible to buy them with any peace-of-mind. Be sure to check the small boxes of crayons given out by fast food restaurants and others; most of them come from China . In 1999, the Consumer Product Safety Commission tested Crayola brand crayons, made in America , and found them to meet federal lead safety standards. http://nolead.home.mindspring.com/crayons.htm
Chalk used for pool (billiard) cues
The colored chalk was found to contain between 5000 and 7000 parts per million lead, similar to the level in paint considered dangerous. Twenty different brands of pool cue chalk were evaluated and three brands were found to have elevated levels - Master Green, Pioneer Green and Pioneer tangerine. Children may be harmed by eating the chalk or cue-chalk dust deposited on surfaces within the house.
http://www.svpl.org/Docs/CueChalkHazard.html
Back to TopDentist
Patients are at risk for exposure to a substantial amount of lead during a dental radiograph procedure if the office stores dental intraoral radiograph film in boxes with lead oxide (a white powder). These protective boxes were used to stop the release of radiation. Advances in dental radiograph technology have made lead-lined radiograph storage boxes unnecessary. Because lead oxide cannot be removed adequately, the film packets stored in lead-lined boxes and the film packets stored in them should be discarded.
Lead foil, dental bite wings, and discarded lead shields contain lead. Dental trap filter wastes contain lead, silver, mercury. Fluoride treatment chemicals may have lead, arsenic, or toxic industrial by-product contaminants.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Fluorescent bulbs contain toxic metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead. Unbroken lamps pose no threat to human health and the environment and may be managed as a universal waste. However, when fluorescent bulbs are broken, people may be exposed to toxic levels of mercury vapor and other metals which can be easily inhaled.
http://www.dnr.state.mo.us/oac/pub1167.pdf#search='lead%20in%20photo%20processing%20chemicals'
Incandescent light bulbs may contain lead in soldered bases (that silver dot at the bottom of the bulb) and glass at levels that exceed the hazardous waste limit. Other tests occasionally indicated incandescent bulbs also had cadmium levels at hazardous waste levels. http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-ead-tas-eleclamp.pdf#search='light%20bulbs%20contain%20lead'
Helpful hint: Safely store bulbs and dispose of during hazardous waste recycling days.
Back to TopPowder
In March 2000, testing revealed 10 powders to contain trace amounts of lead (up to three parts per million). The tests did not actually reveal the powders to be harmful to children, and several of these same companies also manufacture lead-free, unmedicated powders. The common denominator in all of the ones with detectable levels of lead is the active ingredient zinc oxide, added to treat rashes and minor skin irritation.
Because zinc oxide itself is frequently contaminated with lead, applying the medicated powders directly to the chafed, sensitive area of diaper rash may be of particular concern. Although lead is not significantly absorbed through the skin, it is a problem when ingested or inhaled.
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?484
The goal is for these companies to take the lead out. In the meantime, read labels and avoid powders that contain zinc oxide. The Center for Environmental Health reported the following baby powders that do and do not contain lead:
Powders with NO lead:
Diaparene Cornstarch Baby Powder
Johnson's Baby Powder
Johnson's Baby Powder with Aloe and Vitamin E
Longs Hypoallergenic Baby Powder
Walgreens Baby Powder
Powders WITH LEAD:
Ammens Medicated Powder 2.50 ppm
Caldesene Protecting Powder 2.40 ppm
Desitin Baby Powder 0.96 ppm
Dr. Scholl's Medicated Powder
with Zinc Oxide 2.40 ppm
Gold Bond Medicated Baby Powder 3.00 ppm
Gold Bond Medicated Body Powder 0.63 ppm
Johnson's Baby Medicated Powder 0.54 ppm
Longs Medicated Body Powder 0.87 ppm
Mexsana Medicated Body Powder 2.80 ppm
Walgreens Medicated Body Powder 0.75 ppm
Back to TopMedical Equipment
• Radiation shields to protect against X-Rays
• Electronic ceramic parts of ultrasound machines
• Intravenous pumps
• Fetal monitors
• Surgical equipment
http://www.haz-map.com/leadfact.htm
Scientific Equipment and Personal Electronic Items
• Electronic circuitry, Circuit boards for computers
Lead is found in the surface finish/plating of electronic components and circuit boards, in plastic components, and in solder. In April 1993, the Lead Exposure Reduction Act and others were introduced in the U.S. banning lead for use in plumbing and housing but lead in electronic products was exempted! Today, lead-free electronic assemblies are only found in personal-use products, such as TVs, radios, cell phones, cameras, tape players, and computers but only in 5-10% of them! The technology is available but there are also economic and manufacturing issues to address. Some say lead-free items are more expensive and less reliable and that making lead-free high-end electronics, like ATM switches, servers, routers, automotive modules, and military weapons, is more questionable. Another option being considered is to continue to use lead but implement electronics recycling.
On February 13, 2003 , lead-free became a law in the European Union (EU), with an implementation date of July 1, 2006 . From that date on, no electronic products (except those with exemptions) can be made in or shipped to the EU if they contain lead. Plastic ball grid array (PBGA), chip scale packages (CSP), flip chip, and wafer-level chip scale packages (WLCSP) are popular in consumer, computer and communication products. Most of these packages use solder as an interconnect material and will be affected by the lead-free regulations.
In the EU, there are two lead-free directives or laws on "waste electrical and electronic equipment" (WEEE), and "restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment" (RoHS). In brief, WEEE seeks to increase recycling and recovery of waste equipment. RoHS bans lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (HC), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenys ethers (PBDEs).
In some products, lead is exempted by RoHS. For example, lead in solder for servers, storage and storage array systems; lead in solder for network infrastructure equipment for switching, signaling, transmission as well as network management for telecommunications; lead in electronic ceramic parts such as piezoelectronic devices; lead in high-melting-temperature-type solders such as tin-lead solder alloys containing more than 85 wt percent Pb. Also monitoring and control and medical equipment are not subject to the ban.
Although Japan has no lead-free laws, since 1998, Japanese manufacturers have been using lead-free soldering and technology in many popular lead-free consumer products such as MiniDisc players, refrigerators, cleaners, personal computers, notebooks, mobile phones, TVs, VCRs, PCBs and motherboards.
Helpful hint: To recycle your cell phone, PDA's beepers, chargers, etc., call RiverLink, 828-252-8474 , X110
• Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) in TVs and Computer Monitors
A CRT is used in most televisions and computer monitors (Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) and plasma displays do not use CRT technology). Lead is used in CRTs to protect users from potentially harmful exposure to x-rays. The lead in CRTs is bound in a glass matrix as lead oxide, and is stable and immobile. The average CRT used in 1995 to 2000, including televisions and monitors, is an 18.63-inch CRT with a lead content from 2.14 - 2.63 lbs. http://www.eiae.org/whatsnew/attachments/Lead_in_CRTs.pdf#search='lead%20in%20cathode%20ray%20tubes'
Back to TopMilitary Equipment
• Jet turbine engine blades
• Military tracking systems
Occupations that involve work with lead or lead paint
Jobs that expose an adult to lead can also expose vehicles, homes, and others to lead through lead-dust-contaminated clothes, hair or skin.
• Automotive body or radiator repairers
Many painting jobs involve the application of a primer, base coat, and a clear coat. Typically, the base coat contains colored pigments and carrier solvents. The material safety data sheets listed these hazardous substances as components of pigments: chromium, nickel, antimony, and lead.
Workers involved in autobody repair can potentially be exposed to a multitude of air contaminants. During structural repair, activities such as sanding, grinding, and welding generate aerosols that are released into the worker's breathing zone. If the surface of the car being repaired contains toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, or chromium, exposure to these metals is possible. Workers who paint cars can be exposed to organic solvents, hardeners that may contain isocyanate resins, and pigments that may contain toxic components. During spray painting in autobody repair shops, workers are exposed to all of the paint components including metals such as lead and chromium.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer ( IARC ) has reviewed the health effects associated with painting operations. In the IARC publication, the term "painters" included workers who apply paint to surfaces during construction, furniture manufacturing, automobile manufacturing, metal products manufacturing, and autobody refinishing. After reviewing a wide range of publications, they concluded: "There is sufficient evidence for the carcinogenicity of occupational exposure as a painter." In addition, they noted that painters suffer from allergic and non-allergic contact dermatitis, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and adverse central nervous system effects.
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/autobody/docs/ectb179-14a/ectb179-14a.html
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/autobody/docs/nioshctm/nioshctm.html
Helpful hints: Wear a good, tight-fitting respirator to keep from inhaling lead dust. Use a P-100 or R-100 PARTICULATE filter, formerly known as HEPA (not the charcoal type, they are for organic vapors). Shave off the beard to get a good fit and get a fit-tested in your respirator. When you are shopping for a respirator, "N" means not oil proof, "R" means oil resistant, "P" means oil proof. N 95 is not sufficient for the fine dust. P100, or R100 is a better choice. P100 removes 99.97% of dusts, mists & fumes down to .3 microns in size. OSHA allows a half-face mask with P100's to used for up to 10X the permisible exposure limit for an 8 hour day. An N95 filter is about as much protection as one of those filter masks sold for nuisance dusts. Even at that, a half-face respirator even with a P100 isn't sufficient protection at extremely high lead concentrations or if you burn or weld on metal that is covered with lead-based paint. Burning and welding breaks the lead into atom-sized particles at very high concentrations. Those operations may require a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) or in some cases even supplied air or SCBA. None of this is worth a darn without a good facepiece seal. http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=pbwork&th=7975
• Battery breaking, recycling or manufacturing
• Brass or copper foundry work
• Bridge, tunnel, tower and ship work (where lead paint was used)
Ironworkers, painters, laborers, and other construction workers may be exposed to lead during repair of bridges and steel structures. Workers need protection whenever they disturb or remove lead paint - when torch cutting, grinding, scaling, needle gunning, rivet busting, and cleaning-up. Workers are exposed by breathing in tiny airborne particles or by hand to mouth activities, like smoking or eating.
OSHA has estimated that over 5000 bridge repainting and rehabilitation projects involving lead exposure will occur each year (Federal Register, 1993). In addition, exposures greater than 400 times the current OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for construction have been documented during torch burning and abrasive blasting - activities common to bridge rehabilitation and demolition work.
Owners and contractors must ensure the health and well-being of workers, their families, the community and the environment. Reliance on regulatory enforcement alone is wholly inadequate since: 1) enforcement is scarce relative to the large volume of work underway, and; 2) compliance approaches often identify problems after harmful exposures have already occurred. Therefore, contracts should include specifications on the use of protective work practices and controls and the selection of a qualified contractor. Costs and enforcement are the responsibility of the owner. http://www.cdc.gov/elcosh/docs/d0500/d000562/d000562.html
• Building construction and demolition work
• Cable repair
• Ceramics and jewelry making
• Chemical industry
• Closed-wheel auto racing
• Drivers who spend much time on heavily-traveled major highways
• Electrician
Case Study: An electrician habitually chewed on the plastic insulation that he stripped off the ends of electrical wires. Samples of the copper wire with white, blue, and yellow plastic insulation were obtained and analyzed for lead content. The clear plastic outer coating (present on all colors of wire) and the copper wire contained no lead; however, the colored coatings contained 10,000-39,000 ug of lead per gram of coating. On receipt of these results, he was instructed immediately to discontinue chewing the wire coating.
• Firing-range instructors and Police Officers
• Foundry work
• Gas-station attendants
• Gasoline additives production
• Lead abatement work
• Lead mining, smelting and processing
• Machine manufacturing
• Paint, pigment or shellac manufacture
• Plastics industry
• Plumbing/pipe fitting
Putty is cementing material made of whiting (finely powdered calcium carbonate) and boiled linseed oil.
Red lead putty is a compound used for caulking pipe joints, made of red lead, white lead, and boiled linseed oil. Red-lead putty is used as luting on pipe fittings.
• Pottery workers
• Printing
Many components contain hazardous materials:
Etch baths for making printing plates may contain hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and heavy metals;
Solutions used in platemaking film processing may contain silver, lead, chromium, cadmium, toluene, chloroform, and methylene chloride;
Printing inks may contain a variety of toxic metals, such as chromium, lead, and cadmium, along with hydrocarbon solvents, plasticizers, barium-based pigments, and acrylic copolymers;
Cleanup washes may contain ethyl alcohol, benzene, toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, perchloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, and kerosene.
• Recycling operations
• Rubber industry
• Scrap metal industry
• Shipfitters
A 2001 study found that shipfitters working aboard ship are overexposed to lead. Recommendations include substituting lead based paint with less toxic materials if feasible, avoiding the use of lead/based putty.
• Soldering of lead products
• Solid waste production
• Stained-glass makers
• Welding/metal working
Back to TopAll welding processes produce fumes and gases to a greater or lesser extent. For example, galvanized steels will produce added fumes from the vaporized zinc coating. Fumes from welding galvanized steel can contain zinc, iron and lead. Fume composition typically depends on the composition of materials used, as well as the heat applied by the particular welding process. In any event, good ventilation minimizes the amount of exposure to fumes. Prior to welding on any metal, consult ANSI /ASC Z-49.1, Safety In Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes , which contains information on personal protection, the general welding area, ventilation, and fire prevention.
Hobbies that involve work with lead or lead paint
Hobbies that expose an adult to lead can also expose vehicles, homes, and others to lead through lead-dust-contaminated clothes, hair or skin.
• Antique furniture restoration
• Boat building
• Bronze casting
• Casting lead fishing sinkers, shot or pewter
• Copper enameling
• Fishing
Never put a lead sinker in your mouth or bite down on slip shot - use a pair of pliers instead! Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling lead sinkers or cleaning out your tackle box. Consider using a non-lead alternative. Sinkers, including split shots, are now available in less toxic compounds such as tin, bismuth, and tungsten. Ask your local tackle shop or retailer to carry non-lead alternatives.
Several species of water birds are vulnerable to lead poisoning from the accidental ingestion of lead fishing sinkers. Species of special concern include those that feed in shallow waters, such as bay diving ducks, surface feeding ducks, sea ducks, wading birds (cranes, herons, bitterns, and egrets) and shoreline feeders (geese and brants).
If you manufacture lead fishing sinkers, jigs, or spinnerbaits at home, you may be exposing yourself and your family to lead. Lead, when melted, can produce airborne particles that can move around your house and can cover everything-soil, dust, walls, floors, furniture, clothing, toys, stuffed animals, etc. While the best solution is to not manufacture at home-at a minimum, keep children's toys out of work areas, set up your shop in a building that is detached from your house, shower and change clothing, especially shoes which can carry lead dust, before entering a home where children live, work in a well-ventilated area, use a fume hood with a micron filter while working with lead to capture small lead particles, wear a respirator mask with a filter, keep your work area clean, clean the floors and walls with a household soap or detergent and water to reduce the amount of lead dust.
• Glass blowing with leaded glass
• Indoor shooting and hunting
Since ammunition is often made of lead, those who frequent shooting ranges may be exposed to lead dust. There are four ways lead is generated in the shooting range. The first and worst, because of particle size, is the primer that starts the powder ignition. It contains lead styphnate and other heavy metals that insure a proper and reliable ignition. The second, and second worst because of particle size, is the lead burn of the lead bullet tail of jacketed ammunition. The hot propelling gases result in atomization of molecular lead possibly the most dangerous because of great gas volumes if inhaled because of range eddy currents. The third is the lead particles spiting out of revolvers and barrel friction on all firearms. It results in varying size lead particles downrange of the firing line on the floor. The lead will be picked up by shoes and tracked elsewhere, where it may or may not be ingested. The fourth method, and the one that generates up to 95% of the particulate lead, is the lead bullet collision with the so commonly used, "hard" 30 ° to 45 ° incline steel traps. Best management Practices to minimize the impact of lead on humans and the environment include:
- Use totally enclosed jacketed ammunition
- Use lead-free primers
- Install proper ventilation to assure adequate air movement and pressure in the breathing space and HEPA filter the air to be breathed
- Institute Range Operational Rules, only proper ammunition used, wash hands, etc.
- Eliminate lead dust generation at the bullet trap by proper choice of traps.
- Recycle whatever you use
http://www.blackwaterusa.com/btw2004/articles/1101vargas.pdf#search='lead%20in%20ammunition'
In 2004 a world conference was held to discuss the issue of lead in ammunition. The major conclusion of the conference was while lead in ammunition can pose risks in certain environments, these risks can be managed using simple and practical techniques. It was also recognized that the search for effective alternatives must continue. http://www.wfsa.net/Environment_Index.htm
• Lead soldering of electronics or jewelry
Lead-based solder exposes users to lead through inhalation. For this reason, the solder industry, as a whole, is moving towards reducing and eliminating lead and replacing it with other metals.
• Lead lighting
• Model Derby cars
Many use lead wire and lead putty to add weight to the cars.
• Pottery with lead glaze and paint
• Printmaking and other fine arts
• Remodeling/renovations
• Radiator repair and maintenance
• Stained glass
• Welding
Helpful hints: Always remove contaminated clothing and shower before entering living or eating areas or places where children may be present. Always keep children out of work areas.
Back to TopProducts from Asia
• Chinese Herb Products
Lead is a contaminant in soil. Chinese herb products have some level of contamination reflecting the lead taken up by plants and animals, but certain products appear to become significantly contaminated mainly during manufacture in China , particularly in Hong Kong . The excessive lead in those products may come from intentional addition of substances that have elevated lead levels, concentration of lead in the original materials by making dried extracts, and contribution of lead from contaminated water and contaminated facilities. Efforts are being made in China to reduce lead contamination, including cleaning up drinking water and eliminating lead in gasoline, as well as improving manufacturing procedures at the herb factories. One can expect the lead contamination of herbal materials to decline in the future. A timetable for reduction of lead levels in Chinese herb products has been proposed that is consistent with available data about current lead levels and reasonable expectations for reductions in the lead content of soil, water, plants and animals. http://www.itmonline.org/arts/lead.htm
• Surma
Also known as kohl, is a powder and is used cosmetically and medicinally. Surma use has persisted especially in the Northern Indian subcontinent, for both medical and mascara-type cosmetic traditions, and is likely to induce lead poisoning in some children. Surma is available as fine powder or heavy crystals of mineral lead sulfide containing 34-90% lead w/w. The color varies from shining deep black to dull gray brown. In some market samples, adding talc and other ingredients may reduce the lead content to 1%. Eye rubbing and finger licking could be the crucial factors in inducing lead poisoning in surma-using children. Beware of imported mascaras.
• Sindoor , a medicine from India .
• Asian remedy for menstrual cramps, "Koo Sar" pills. Because lead is not listed as an ingredient of Koo Sar pills, it is thought to be a constituent or contaminant of the red dye used to color the pills. The varying lead concentrations measured in different samples of the pills probably result from varying amounts of lead present during manufacture of the red dye.
• Hindu folk medicine - ground seeds and roots as treatment for diabetes (8 mg lead/g)
Back to TopProducts from Dominican Republic
Litargirio (pronounced "lee-tar-heario") is a yellow/peach-colored powder that may contain up to 80% lead . It is packaged and sold as a home remedy and is most frequently used as an antiperspirant/deodorant. It is also used for treating fungus on the feet, for burns, and for wound healing.
The product is made in the Dominican Republic and is believed to be bought and sold primarily within the Dominican community. It is sold in small clear packets (e.g. 2-inch by 3-inch packages are most common). Some botanicals may sell packages that do NOT contain a label. Powder that accumulates on hands or on surfaces can be accidentally swallowed or can be inhaled.
Helpful hints: Stop use. Thoroughly wash hands and any other exposed body parts that come into contact with the powder. Wash affected household surfaces with soap and water . P ut any unused product in a sealed container or plastic bag. Contact your local sanitation department for instructions on safe disposal.
Children or pregnant/nursing women should be tested by a health care provider for lead poisoning if they have used this product. http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doh/pdf/lead/litargirio-fs1.pdf#search='litargirio '
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/74/89422?src=Inktomi&condition=Drug%20Alert
Back to TopFood
• Food stored, cooked, reheated or served in:
- Lead-glazed ceramics or porcelain
- Leaded crystal or glass
- Imported cans with lead soldering, (particularly acidic foods such as pineapples, pickles and tomatoes)
- Lead-soldered samovar (urn) from Iran
- Painted glass
- Pots 'tinned' with a lead-tin mixture
- Brass with leachable lead levels
- Indian pressure cookers, especially from the rubber gasket and safety
Food from other countries
- Food prepared with the use of leaded gasoline - emissions can deposit lead onto the food
- Spices and food coloring may be contaminated with lead from petrol emissions, lead pigments or painted storage containers. Be especially aware at festivals.
- Food exposed to lead-arsenate pesticides or lead-containing fertilizers
- Root vegetables grown in contaminated soil
- Vegetable coated with contaminated dirt and not washed
- Leafy vegetables exposed to lead dust
- Lead may be in ink used to print candy wrappers or food labels. Lead may leach into food or be consumed during the eating of the