Across Virginia - The recent lead paint recalls have many of us on edge. Now it seems the stuff is in Christmas lights. We talked to one woman who found the warning. She plans to throw them away, but she may have a hard time finding a replacement. We found the same lead warning on every box of Christmas lights we picked up at Lynchburg ’s Wal-Mart and K-Mart.
It reads, “Handling the coated electrical wires of this product exposes you to lead.” Lesia Grubbs found this at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Altavista. Something she doesn’t want to have near her two-year-old daughter. Lesia Grubbs, Concerned Parent - “And when I picked the lights up and I looked at the back to make sure they were alright to use for it, that’s when I seen it about the lead.” Dr.
Katherine Nichols says there’s no need to panic, but if you do handle the lights containing lead, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly. Dr. Katherine Nichols, Central VA Health District Director - “If you had it on your hands and while your decorating the tree, you’re eating Christmas cookies you could ingest some lead that way.” Dr. Nichols says you should not let children under five near them, just to be safe.
You could find the warning on other cords covered with PVC plastic or the insulation around electrical wires. Click here for more information from the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition, or click here for more information from the Virginia Department of Health Lead-Safe Virginia program .
Posted by Kristmas Santa on October 9th, 2007 at 9:22 am
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