LEAD ALERT!

WARNING: REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS MAY CONTAIN LEAD

Thorton Laboratories (USA) has recently found concentrations of  LEAD in reusable shopping bags. More than half of the bags tested from approximately 25 different manufacturers had levels of lead ranging from 5 to 100 ppm.

SHOULD I BE CONCERNED?

Yes. The bags of concern have been distributed in both Canada and the US. Stop using your reusable grocery bags until you have determined they are 100% lead free. Remember, there is no safe level of lead!

HOW DO IN KNOW IF MY BAG IS SAFE?

First check where it was made. If it was made in China, the risk of it containing lead is much higher. Reusable bags with elaborate illustrations are likely to contain higher levels of lead. Yellow and green paints often contain higher levels of lead. Other bright colours should be a cause for concern and investigation as well. If in doubt, do not use your bag. Wash you hands well after handling.

CAN I CHECK FOR LEAD?

Absolutely. Use a home lead test kit and follow the instructions carefully. The LEAD-FREE STORE has the best selection of test kits available. They are inexpensive and ship in just a few days.

MY BAG CONTAINS LEAD. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Please do not throw your bag in the garbage where the lead will leach back into the earth when it reaches the landfill, or may become lead vapour if incinerated. Secure the reusable bag in an airtight plastic bag, and if possible, return it to the store where it was purchased. You are justified in a request for a refund, but the real purpose is to put the responsibility of dealing with the dangerous product back in the hands of the person who sold it you, while sending a clear message about the product safety standard you expect as a consumer.

WHERE CAN I GET A LEAD-FREE REUSABLE BAG?

Check with your retailer and ask specifically for “lead-free”.                                                     Or... here is a quick link to the LEAD-FREE STORE where you can order                       lead-free reusable grocery bags on-line.

For more information on lead, visit www.enoughlead.com .

QUESTION: WHY IS THERE SO MUCH LEAD FOUND IN GARDEN SOIL?

ANSWER: LEAD found its way into the soil in and around our yards by way of a couple of routes.

The first is related to gasoline. When leaded gas was phased out, the accumulation of lead in the environment did not suddenly disappear as many wrongly assumed. Since LEAD does not dissolve or break down over time, lead particles from decades past have settled into soil and dirt.      

The exterior paint on pre-1970 homes has peeled many times and deposited lead contaminated paint chips into adjacent gardens in homeowners' yards. Power-washing has contributed enormously to garden soil lead levels as old layers of paint are blasted free from wood siding, fences, etc.

Garden products such as bone meal can add lead to soil, and nearby lead sources such as shooting ranges or sandblasting of metal structures such as bridges can send dangerous amounts of lead airborne, floating many miles before settling.

The MAY 2010 edition of the LEAD-FREE LIVING NEWSLETTER will focus exclusively on safe garden practices related to lead exposure, soil testing, and making your yard lead-safe for children. Sign-up is quick and free... JUST CLICK HERE.

For more information on lead exposure, and how heavy metals are causing our children's autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, low IQ and behaviour problems, visit www.nomoreleadbabies.com