Green Group Claims Disney's Children's Jewelry Toxic
April 12, 05An American environmental group is claiming that independent laboratory testing has found that children's jewelry sold by Walt Disney Co contains toxic levels of lead.
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"We filed a legal notice to Disney Monday letting them know that this is a violation of
In a statement, Disney Consumer Products said its products are safe, and meet or exceed all federal product safety regulations and environmental standards.
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Lead can affect brain development and is especially harmful to young children and fetuses, according to CEH.
A study by the
Most of the bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings bought from large chain stores for the study leeched enough lead to cause minor neurological damage after just 20 seconds of daily contact, claims.
Most of the jewelry tested was aimed at children, researchers said. One ring leeched lead at 250 times the federal limit of daily exposure in children younger than three.
Sellers are not required to disclose the content of jewelry, and researchers say consumers have no way of telling which jewelry pieces could have dangerous lead levels. The biggest potential for high lead content is in items with a dull, antique looking finish.
Last summer, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 150 million pieces of toy jewelry sold in vending machines between 2002 and 2004 because of dangerous lead levels.
Federal regulators said they are studying lead in costume jewelry sold by mass retailers, and a report is due out this year.
The California Attorney-General sued 13 major retailers last June for failing to disclose that some jewelry sold at their stores contained lead exceeding state standards.