Lead: The Hidden Danger in Holiday Lights

The other day, my husband announced that he'd like to decorate the house with holiday lights. I was excited at the prospect, but had no idea where our outside lights were. We've moved them around so many places and put them in and out of storage, we figured it would just be easier to buy new lights. So off we trucked to the Home Depot to stock up on lights, a ladder and clips. So, imagine to my chagrin, when I opened the lights and saw the following warning: "Prop 65 Warning: Handling coated electrical wires of this product may expose you to lead, a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after installation of this product." Lead? In my holiday lights? I was floored.

As many know, lead is one of the leading causes of birth and neurological defects in young children, because they are especially susceptible to it. Exposure can not only lead to birth defects and seizures, but in severe cases, death. The "Prop 65 Warning" stems from a law that California passed requiring that above note to be put on the packaging of any product. No other state requires it (another surprise). But rather than create two packages, most manufacturers leave that notice on there .

Is their a serious danger from your holiday lights? Different companies use different amounts of lead, however, most seem to claim that they are within the safety guidelines and that the amounts are minute. The lead is used in the plastic PVC coating to help it retain its color and make it more resistant to fire. However, the lead can break down into dust. Not only is this a problem with holiday lights, but fake trees that may also have lead-laced lights and themselves be made from PVC. If you are unsure of whether your tree might contain lead, and you have small children, it is best to replace the tree and search for a new one that is lead free (or get a real tree). One university study in North Carolina showed the dust from an artificial trees being 10 times higher than the recommended safety level by our government. According to the Children's Health Environmental Coalition, any appliance with a PVC coated electric wire will contain trace amounts of lead.

It is unclear whether there is a real danger posed by holiday lights. But, to this consumer and mother of two, I say better safe than sorry. Do not allow your children to handle holiday lights, unless you are sure they are lead free, and always thoroughly wash your hands after handling them. You may also want to search for lights made in the USA, versus China, where they have different guidelines (or no guidelines at all) about the amount of lead that can be used in such products.

For more information: www.CHECnet.org