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Here's our family's story and the path we took to help Mark recover from lead poisoning and some learning issues. Read Mark's Story
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Artificial Trees and Lead
There is so much attention recently on the items going under your tree for your children. Do they contain lead? Here's another question; does your Christmas tree contain lead?
In 2004, The Journal of Environmental Health tested lead content in branches, lead transfer from hand contact, and lead dust levels under the tree in a laboratory. They also performed field studies on households with artificial trees. The study concluded that the average artificial Christmas tree does not present a significant exposure risk, but worst-case scenarios presented a substantial health risk to children.1 Worse case scenario was defined by the authors as a combination of the most dangerous child behaviors (putting hands into their mouths after touching the tree or directly putting parts of the branches into their mouths) accompanied by one of the trees that has a higher level of lead. Furthermore, the field studies revealed that 33.1% of the artificial trees had lead present in their needles and most of the homes (66.7%) had children.
The University of North Carolina-Asheville is also concerned about artificial trees. A 2003 study found some of those branches may have been made with PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and putting those trees near heat, like a sunny window or fireplace, makes matters worse.2 Further a professor from the same university discovered that 25% of Christmas trees he tested contained high levels of lead.3
Approximately 85% of fake trees sold in the U.S. are imported from China. The potential for lead poisoning from these trees is great enough that the state of California requires a warning label.4 The on-line store Christmas Depot has American made lead free trees available in a variety of sizes and prices. They also carry lead free garland.
Furthermore, in December of 2005, Consumer Reports stated that lead is often a component of PVC that is used not only in trees, but also in holiday lights and other cords and wires. Lead is what allows the PVC to be flexible and lead is also used to stabilize color.5 Consumer Reports warns that some lead may come to the surface and stick to your hands if the cord is handled.6 We were unable to find 100% lead free holiday lights, but these sets from Gaiam only has lead in the cord and are more energy efficient.
LED Holiday Lights
Solar Holiday Lights
Mitigate Risk of Exposure
1. Test your tree for lead by using a lead test kit,
2. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling food or touching your face after handling your tree.
3. Check the labels of Holiday trimmings before you buy them. In California a warning must accompany holiday lights and trees that contain lead. Outside of California, check to see if the product uses PVC or is made in China.7
4. Place gifts under the tree Christmas day. This reduces the risk of lead contamination onto gifts that your children will open.8
5. Since PVC products can degrade in the heat and sun; carefully clean the area where your artificial tree was displayed.9 This helps to reduce or eliminate any lead particulate matter.
6. Purchase a lead free artificial tree from Christmas Depot.
7. Purchase a real tree from a local farm.
View our Lead Free & Organic Gift Ideas for Kids and Adults
1.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Artificial+Christmas+trees%3a+how+real+are+the+lead+exposure+risks%3f-a0126076381 and http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/summary_0199-3486620_ITM
2. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=local&id=4821431
3. http://www.kmbc.com/holidays/1834459/detail.html
4. http://www.christmastree.org/faketrees.cfm#lead
5. http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/education/articles-detail.asp?Main_ID=700
6.http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/news/holidaylighting-safety-alert-1205-candle-safety-candle-fire/overview/
7. http://apps.caes.uga.edu/news/storypage.cfm?storyid=2058
8. http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/go/index.php/436/christmas-tree-lights-lead/
9. http://apps.caes.uga.edu/news/storypage.cfm?storyid=2058
