National brand children's products purchased from WalMart, Target, Toys R Us found contaminated with lead

Oakland, CA- Vinyl backpacks, a vinyl purse, a vinyl wallet and other products for children marketed with Disney's "Hannah Montana" character contain high levels of lead, according to testing by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH). Several products purchased from WalMart, Target and Toys R Us stores in the Bay Area were found with lead levels exceeding the federal standard for lead in paint (600 parts per million[ppm]), and other products were found with lead in excess of levels set by certain state laws and by medical authorities.

"Millions of children idolize Hannah Montana, but parents should know that lead is a stunningly toxic chemical that shouldn't be in products for children," said Michael Green, Executive Director of CEH. "Lead can impact girls' learning and development throughout their youth and later can reduce their ability to have healthy children. It's the worst of both worlds."

In February, CEH purchased twenty-eight Hannah Montana products from retailers and online, and found nine with high levels of lead. Five vinyl products tested at between three and fourteen times higher than the federal paint standard (between 1,800-8,300 ppm). Three other vinyl products tested above 200 ppm, and one tested at nearly that level. In 2005, after CEH exposed high levels of lead in vinyl children's lunch boxes, several leading lunch box producers agreed to a limit of 200 ppm of lead. Nineteen states have laws limiting lead in packaging to 100 ppm, and the American Academy of Pediatrics has called for a limit of 40 ppm of lead in products for children under age 12.

CEH is recommending that parents avoid vinyl products for children and teens. Vinyl is a "poison plastic" that is often made with lead, a neurotoxin that can cause learning disorders, brain and nerve damage, hearing problems, stunted growth, and digestive problems. Scientists are increasingly concerned that even small exposures to lead can cause problems in children, pre-teens, teenagers and even adults.

In addition to vinyl lunchboxes, CEH's legal work under Prop 65 has uncovered lead threats to children from toys, vinyl baby bibs, children's jewelry and other products. CEH has a ten-year track record of protecting children from hidden health hazards in consumer products and protecting communities from health hazards related to toxic pollution. CEH also works with major industries and leaders in green business to promote healthier alternatives to toxic products and practices. 

For photos of the Hannah Montana products and more about CEH's findings,  click here.

Testimony on lead in children's products from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including the Academy's recommendations, is at http://www.aap.org/advocacy/washing/Testimonies-Statements-Petitions/09-20-07-Lead-Tainted-Imports-Testimony.pdf.