Many inexpensive accessories are laden with lead

The Center for Environmental Health on Dec. 20 warned shoppers to avoid potentially lead-tainted purses, belts and shoes from the major mall chain stores Forever 21, Wet Seal and Charlotte Russe.

Over the past year, more than half of the accessories from Wet Seal tested for lead by an independent lab contained more lead than allowed under a legal agreement the companies signed in 2010. About 25 percent of items from the other two stores also failed to meet this lead safety standard.

The center released a video, "Dumb Ways to Shop," to warn consumers about the lead problem at the stores.

“These retailers target young women, who are especially at risk from lead threats,” said Michael Green, Executive Director of CEH. “Families should not support giant retailers that flout the law and ignore their responsibility to provide safer products. This holiday season, we urge shoppers to avoid purses and other accessories at these stores.”

Last month the center's attorneys received a letter from a Chinese whistleblower warning them that a boot sold at Charlotte Russe for the past two years is tainted with high levels of lead. The letter included a photo of the boot and test results showing lead levels in violation of the safety standard, and warned that consumers and the environment could be at risk. Independent lab results the center received this week confirm the boot contains nearly 7,000 parts per million (ppm) of lead, more than 20 times above the safety standard.

The lead problems at these stores have been ongoing for several years. Forever 21, Wet Seal and Charlotte Russe were notified about the lead problem in these products more than four years ago. They each signed legal agreements to get the lead out. Dozens of other retailers who signed similar agreements have had no or far fewer recent lead safety problems.

Lead exposure has been linked to higher rates of infertility in women, an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure, among other health problems. Scientists are increasingly concerned that there is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for pregnant women and young children. A recent study concluded that lead exposure during pregnancy could have “lasting and possibly permanent effects” on a child’s IQ, and another study showed that lead exposure during the first trimester, when some women are not even aware that they are pregnant, had the most pronounced effects on a child’s mental development.

Source: Center for Environmental Health: ceh.org

"Dumb Ways to Shop": www.ceh.org/dumbwaystoshop