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Department of Ecology Press Release - December 15, 2005
05-299
OLYMPIA - Recent reports of high lead levels in certain vinyl lunchboxes manufactured in China has prompted the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) to ask retailers to immediately pull those lunchboxes from store shelves.
Lead can be used as a stabilizer in vinyl products, but studies have shown that lead in soft vinyl lunchboxes does not stay bound to the vinyl. Lead is a toxic material that can poison the blood, and children who are exposed to lead can suffer learning deficits and even neurological damage.
Ecology has asked retailers in Washington state to voluntarily remove the vinyl lunchboxes in question from store shelves while the agency determines the toxicity level of the lead in the items.
Tests conducted by the state of New York and California's Center for Environmental Health on the soft vinyl surface of some lunchboxes show alarming levels of lead. State officials are concerned that children might swallow lead that has rubbed off onto their food or hands, exposing them to unacceptable levels of lead.
In addition to asking retailers to pull the lunchboxes, Ecology is conducting its own testing and is asking distributors and manufactures to certify that their products do not contain high amounts of lead. "We need more information about the number of these lunchboxes. We don't know how much lead they contain, but testing in other states causes us great concern." said Jay Manning, Ecology director. "We are in the process of conducting tests of our own, but in the meantime, because lead is so damaging to children, it's prudent to stop selling these specific lunchboxes while we learn more."
The big problem, according to Manning, is a regulatory system that allows such products into stores in the first place without tests or assurance that they are safe.
"We only know about this because the state of New York discovered the problem and took action to prohibit it.," said Manning. "The Russian Roulette approach to consumer protection just isn't working. Citizens have a right to expect that products on store shelves are safe."
The state Department of Health is concerned about the lunchboxes.
"Lead exposure can cause serious health and developmental problems for young children. It's important to limit kids' exposure to all sources of lead." said Robert Duff, Director of the Office of Environmental Health Assessments.
The Washington Retail Association is supportive of the action the state departments of Ecology and Health are taking.
Responding to the requested recall, Jan Teague, Washington Retail Association president and CEO said, "The Washington Retail Association always works cooperatively with Ecology to quickly educate everyone as product issues are brought to our attention. The WRA has already notified its members, chambers of commerce, and others in its email network to encourage getting the word out on pulling these lunchboxes from the retail shelf."
Some of the brands that have tested high are: Generation Sports, Frozen/Ingear, Roundhouse/Targus, Crayola, American Studio, Igloo, Sanford, Fast Forward, Arizona Jean Company, JC Penny, Lisa Frank, Animations/Accessory Network, Holiday Fair/Mischief Makers, Extreme Gear/Romar, SubZero/Global Advantage, Chill, Big Dogs, Childress baby bottle carriers, Innovo, East End Accessories/Worldwide Dreams.
It is important to note that not all lunchboxes with these brand names necessarily contain lead - of the 158 lunch boxes recently tested, 10 to 20 percent contained high amounts of lead. Information from California's Center for Environmental Health, which conducted the study, can be found at http://www.cehca.org/lunchbox_factsheet.pdf.
Here are actions that consumers can take:
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Contact: Darin Rice, Ecology's Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program, can be reached at 360-407-6702.
More information from the Center for Environmental Health Web pages:
http://www.cehca.org/lunchboxes.htm#photos
http://www.cehca.org/news.htm
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
