Secondhand Outlets Not Required to Test for Lead and Phthalates
Tips for Safe Secondhand Shopping
Due to a backlash of public sentiment, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has given thrift stores and other secondhand outlets the go-ahead to keep untested items in their sale inventory after February 10, the effective date of the new safety regulations.
The CSPS warns thrift store owners and other secondhand merchandise sellers to be aware of unsafe products that may cause liability issues, and reminds them that it is illegal to sell any item which has ever been subject to recall.
A huge variety of clothing and household products are donated to thrift stores, and the thrift store workers (usually volunteers) may unintentionally offer unsafe items for sale. Consumers should educate themselves on product safety and be aware of product recalls to protect their own families' safety, whether the product they are buying is new or secondhand.
Tips for Secondhand Safety
Be sure all buttons, snaps and charms are securely attached to children's clothing, or repair them before letting the child wear them. You might even want to remove small decorations that have no function. Fasteners and decorations may contain lead, which could be hazardous if swallowed and also pose a choking hazard.
When buying secondhand children's furniture, be sure it meets modern safety standards. Lead contamination and phthalate fumes aren't the only safety risks you might encounter when buying secondhand. Many unsafe baby furnishings are still on the market that may never have been subject to recall. For instance, older cribs often have widely-spaced slats or other cut-outs that babies may get their heads, arms, or legs stuck in.
Old wooden toys and furniture may be painted with lead paint. Strip the old finish off such items (unless they have antique value, in which case you don't want your kids using them anyway!) and leave the wood natural, or repaint it with a non-toxic paint.
Older plastics containing phthalates are less of a concern than newer ones, since the toxic fumes dissipate over time. If you're buying plastic toys, furniture, or food containers secondhand, opt for the older items.
Don't buy baby bottles secondhand unless you know they are made with phthalate-free plastics. Even though the risks posed by phthalates are questionable, why take any chances with your baby's future health and development? Use the money you've saved buying secondhand baby clothing to invest in new bottles and dinnerware for your precious darling.
Resources:
http://www.americanchemistry.com/s_phthalate/sec.asp?CID=1762&DID=6479
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/01/09/0109thrift.html
Published by Jill Davidson
Ms. Davidson is self-employed as a secondhand merchant, crafter, and free-lance writer. View profile
Know the Danger of Lead Poisoning in Your ChildrenBeing aware of your home lead potential is the greatest way to prevent your children from lead poisoning and the harmful affects that result from it. - Should You Test Your Child's Toys and Your Child for Lead?If you are a parent of if you are an avid news watcher, by now you know all about the massive recall on a lot of toys because of the possibility of them being affected by lead based paint. Should parents tests other t...
- Stretching Your Dollar at Thrift StoresI've been a thrift store shopper for 15 years. By buying carefully and shopping sales, you can stretch your thrift store dollars even further.
- Cheap Clothes for College: Thrift Stores, Clothing Swaps and MoreIt may seem that bargains are impossible to find when you're looking for college rags, but the truth is actually quite the contrary. Thrift stores, clothes swaps, and your crafty hands can all aid in getting cheap cl...
Top Three Thrift Stores in Bakersfield, CaliforniaIf you're not sure what some of the top three Thrift stores in Bakersfield are, then you need to read this article.
- Thrift Stores Charging Walmart's Prices
- Thrift Stores and Garage Sales: Frugal Parenting in Kenosha
- Tips for Furniture Shopping at Thrift Stores
- The Top Thrift Stores in Bremerton, Washington
- How to Make Money Shopping at Thrift Stores
- Treasure Hunts Begin at Your Local Thrift Stores
- Guide to Shopping at Thrift Stores for Unbelievable Bargains
- Secondhand outlets are now exempt from lead and phthalate testing.
- Consumers should be aware of product recalls that may affect their families.
- Secondhand children's items should meet current safety standards.
15 Comments
Post a Commentthanks for this info
IMPORTANT INFO for thrifty shoppers.
I love thrift stores. But I can see where some items that they sell could be unsafe. Thanks for this informative article.
I read in the new Antique Weekly yesterday that we (resale, antique, and thrift shops) will NOT be exempt from the law. It's a very confusing blurb of legislation. In the first couple lines it declares we won't be responsible, but toward the end says EVERYONE including us will have to test lead or possibly suffer criminal charges.
They did state, as of now, that items with lead content can be sold as long as the intended recipient is not a child (for example, a rocking horse coated in lead paint bought for display purposes is legit, however, the same item bought for a child could lead to prosecution). Hopefully they clarify this law a bit more. We're going to have to make people sign contracts before leaving our shop stating the intended item is for display and will not be handled by children. Crazy, crazy world we live in. When did the government take the place of parental responsibility?
This is such a informative article. It's not something most people would think about. Excellent work!
EXCELLENT article! You have hit on a very important subject that not many people consider. Great job.
Great story and you offer some excellent tips for parents and care-takers to take more of a hands-on approach to keeping their little ones safe. Thx for sharing!
good to know info... thanks
this is great to know thank you!
Good to know.