Too much lead found in women's handbags
Lead Found in Women's Handbags
A landmark agreement involving two big retail chains establishes, for the first time, limits on lead in women's handbags and wallets.
The Center for Environmental Health went to 100 of the nation's top retailers -- including Target, Macy's, Wal-Mart and Kohl's -- and bought purses.
The group had the bags tested for lead at an independent lab. Two separate tests were conducted. Some bags were wiped to see how much, if any, lead would simply rub off the material. The bags also were tested for the total lead content of the products.
The tests came back showing disturbingly high levels of lead, the Center for Environmental Health said.
"This is something every woman of childbearing age ought to be paying attention to," said Dr. Alan Greene, a lead expert and pediatrician at Stanford University.
Lead typically is found in polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. Some manufacturers find it useful in items like synthetic handbags because it makes material pliable. It also can be found in pigments because it makes bright colors last longer.
According to the Center for Environmental Health, in some tests bags had levels 30 to 100 times higher than the federal limit for lead in all children's items. That limit is the only federal limit on the books for lead in consumer products, other than paint.
The concern with many of the purses is that lead can rub off of the bag and end up on people's hands, or on children's hands and then into their mouths.
Greene said not everyone is equally affected.
"Little kids put things into their mouth much more than others do," he said, "so that makes the years up to pregnancy, and during pregnancy and nursing, and early childhood, the key times of exposure."
So how much lead can rub off a purse when touched? The CEH found levels of lead higher than California allows for a product unless it carries a warning label for cancer and birth defects.
Lead has been implicated in a laundry list of health concerns, mostly for children, pregnant women and women who hope to become pregnant.
Studies have linked lead to child learning disabilities and some have even linked childhood lead exposure to Alzheimer's later in life.
"When it's something that Mom is carrying around with her all the time, it's rubbing against her clothes, it's rubbing against her kids, it's a place you don't" want to have lead, Greene said.
Companies Agree to Pull Suspect Bags From Shelves in California
The companies in the settlement -- H&M, New York & Company, and two suppliers -- agreed to pull suspect bags from their shelves in California, where the lawsuit was filed. Each company also will pay $37,000 that will, in part, pay to educate people about toxic health hazards and pay for tests on bags to enforce tougher lead standards going forward.
H&M told ABC News it will enforce tougher standards globally. The company added it has had a ban in place on many toxic chemicals in its products, including lead, and that in this case, one of their suppliers violated company policy.
The Center for Environmental Health told ABC News it is now in discussion with more than 60 major retailers and suppliers working toward a similar agreement. If that broader settlement with retail giants is achieved, it could mean tough new lead standards for bags in stores across the country.
3 stars
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Alena http://ovarianpain.net
Hello, I have been searching for information on handbags, leather items and its impacts on the society. I found that your blog has interesting information. The interesting point is "Lead". Thanks for this useful information. Regards, Vincent
Ian Bancroft, theair jordan co-founder ofjordan shoes TransConflict, a humanitarianair jordan shoes organizationnike air jordan workingvibram five fingers in thevibram shoes western Balkans, saysvibram fivefinger the rulingfive fingers shoes handed down vibram shoes by thelouboutin International Courtchristian louboutin is important."Key, absolutelychristian louboutin shoes key. Serbiaugg boots was relyinguggs upon thisugg australia non-bindingcoach outlet ruling tocoach bags give themcoach handbags momentum, thecoach purse political, moral, legal, symbolicchristian audigier weight toed hardy clothing go to theca clothing United Nations Generallouis vuitton bags Assembly and securelv bags another resolution callinglouis vuitton handbags for thembt shoes resumption ofmbt womens shoes negotiations withmbt shoe Kosovo. Havingmbt sandals failed to securechanel bags the verdictchanel tote that theychanel handbags expected, and bearingchanel purse in mind thatchanel wallet the ICJ hasNike Zvezdochka delivered whatpandora charms most peoplepandora beads were notpandora bracelets expecting, which is an unambiguouspandora jewelry ruling, Serbia now ugg boots will have to seriously ugg australia reconsider theugg boot approach that it uggs takes," he said. Sixty nine countries, includingugg uk the United States, Japan, Germany, France and the United ugg boot Kingdom have recognized Kosovo'sugg boots sale independence. But as Kurt Volker, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO says, a keyuk ugg boots country still opposed to Kosovo's independence is Russia. 191753
For those of you who do not know vibram fivefingers of new shoe designed specifically for the operation, called Bikila named after Olympic champion Abebe Bikila, who won the race in 1960, the marathon, barefoot!It has the same design vibram five, that so many have won, but contains a little more traction on the ground, concrete runners understand.In any case, we have a word of Country Travel, provider of popular five finger, they just received new supplies five fingers. This is very much like we have heard many complaints about the fivefingers kso are not for sale (because they are so popular). So, if you’ve been waiting to get a pair you better act fast because these things like jump off the shelves.For water vibram shoes Woman Shoes Lilac/white/Lilac sports and adventure outdoors in wet state is far from assured, you need shoes that will challenge and give you the necessary level of protection, while a relatively reliable high power at work have to contend with water. If you water sports, it is better to invest in vibram five finger shoes that are built on the water, and spend one last little more for higher vibram five fingers quality.
Vibram five fingers shoes since 1947 began production and manufacturing, which is famous for wearing rubber.Vibram kso quality and durability and five toes on your shoes first, because you are a fan of light lasted for months for 2 minutes and feeling my feet bare feet, set , and wear vibram classic shoes.Vibram Five Fingers Sprint that are serious, because to protect themselves and give a feeling of well-being to walk vibram flow barefoot. Barefoot blessings of life, but especially as people in the light of the lives of thousands, if not thousands of campaigns for the cheapestvibram sprint Woman Shoes Lilac/white/Lilac vibram fivefingers kso Woman Shoes Mauve/Sand/Gray, a large number of tests barefoot, but destroyed their own 5fingers shoes is building a better assessment of this system of healing vibram shoes sale shoes bag fashion skeletal fingers of the individual five finger shoes in your life well, without direct contact with the fire on the five fingers shoe ground, and you can start reducing the feet.
Reebok Easytone Trainers do not offer the health enhancing properties of competitor brands on the market such as Reebok Easytone Shoes and Easytone Shoes, however what they do offer is an increased workout and toning of the legs and bottoms in super quick time. They can be easily incorporated into a daily routine and offer a more thorough workout Reebok Easy Tone Shoes walking, jogging or just pottering around the house completing daily Reebok EasyTone. Independent tests have demonstrated that Reebok EasyTone Inspire will boost muscle activity to the gluteus by up to 28%, with hamstring activity raised by 11% and a further 11% boost to the Discount Reebok EasyTone.If the gamble pays off for Reebok ZigTech Shoes, then maybe these shoes will help revitalize their brand. What do you think? Do you plan to buy the new Zig Pulse Shoes pieces ‘which claims to be’ on the energy drink for your feet? I do not see any of these in the future. You can watch a video of John Wall Mens ZigTech Shoes commercial below. Without being at the press conference announcement of the shoes.Everything about zig pulse women is designed to conserve and return energy to the athlete for a soft and springy stride. The one-of-a-kind Cheap Zigtech Shoesbottom unit features an innovative, lightweight foam that is engineered into a dramatic, geometric, Reebok ZigTech. This unique zig-zag sole absorbs the impact of heel strike and sends a wave of energy along the length of the shoe to help propel the athlete forward with each step.