| The Center of Environmental Health California | | | | spontaneous abortion).According to the Agency for |
| (CEHCA) recently released a report finding very high | | | | Toxic Substance Disease reported 1 in 6 children in US |
| levels of lead in children's soft vinyl lunchboxes.Lead is | | | | has a high level of lead in their blood.Nearly half a million |
| a toxic poison. Even the smallest amount can be | | | | children living in the United States have blood lead |
| harmful, especially in children. Children's bodies absorb | | | | levels high enough to cause irreversible damage to |
| more lead than adults and are therefore at a higher | | | | their health. Here are some key symptoms of lead |
| risk.Initial independent laboratory testing commissioned | | | | poisoning to watch for: |
| by CEHCA found 17 lunchboxes with high lead levels -- | | | | Stomachaches Depression High blood pressure |
| anywhere from 2-90 times the legal limit! CEHCA is still | | | | Anemia Fatigue Liver/kidney damage Osteoporosis |
| testing and has not yet included testing hard plastic or | | | | Paralysis Blindness |
| metal lunchboxes.The highest lead level found so far is | | | | Mental retardation Constipation/Diarrhea |
| the Anaconda lunchbox (by Targus International) which | | | | Aggressiveness Muscle pain/weakness |
| tested at 56,400 parts per million of lead. That's 90 | | | | Weight loss Learning disabilities Decreased |
| times the 600 parts per million legal limit for lead in | | | | metabolism Anxiousness Convulsions |
| children's paint.Most of the lead is found in the lining of | | | | Even death with chronic exposure Poor appetite |
| the lunch boxes, where lead comes in direct contact | | | | Hyperactivity Headaches |
| with your child's food. Simply handling the lunchboxes | | | | Coma Death |
| just before eating can expose your kids.Lead was | | | | If your child has any of these symptoms, check with |
| also discovered on the surface of the lunchboxes. | | | | your doctor about having their blood lead levels |
| Lara Cushing, Research Director for CEHCA says "It's | | | | checked.Lead In Our Homes, Offices, Parks and |
| not bound up in the plastic. It's sloughing off. It can | | | | PlaygroundsLead is a soft, heavy, blue-gray metal that |
| come off on your hands. It can rub off on your | | | | occurs naturally in the earth's crust.In most cases lead |
| food."CEHCA believes lead has been intentionally | | | | is released into our atmosphere through our burning of |
| added to the vinyl (PVC) plastic as either a stabilizing | | | | fossil fuels, mining, and factory manufacturing.Although |
| agent or pigment.The CEHCA has filed lawsuits | | | | some lead compounds can be altered by sunlight, air |
| against the makers /retailers of these soft vinyl | | | | and water, lead does NOT break down. Lead, once |
| lunchboxes. Here is a partial list of the | | | | airborne, can also travel long distances before settling |
| manufacturers:Toys R UsWarner BrothersDC | | | | into the ground.80% of homes built before 1978 used |
| ComicsTime WarnerWalgreensThese themed | | | | lead-based paintsOur children can easily be exposed |
| lunchboxes should be avoided: | | | | to lead by ingesting lead-based paint chips or playing in |
| Angela Anaconda Superman Tweety | | | | contaminated soil. Lead has been found on at least |
| Power Puff Girls Hantaro | | | | 1,026 of the 1,467 National Priorities List sites identified |
| It is impossible to tell by appearance if a vinyl lunchbox | | | | by the Environmental Protection Agency |
| contains these high levels of lead. CEHCA therefore | | | | (EPA).According to the CDC 80% of US homes built |
| advises parents to avoid lunchboxes altogether and | | | | before 1978 can contain lead based paint. Lead is still |
| use cloth or paper bags instead.CEHCA Executive | | | | found in ammunition, some batteries, as well as medical |
| Director Michael Green wants manufacturers to recall | | | | and scientific equipment.In the last 20 years, the US |
| their soft vinyl lunchboxes "to take action to eliminate | | | | has removed lead from gasoline, paints, and many |
| lead from their products in the future."CEHCA advises | | | | other products. Though these are critical changes, lead |
| purchasing a lead-test kit. Sixwise recommends either | | | | remains in the environment ... and even in seemingly |
| PACE's Lead Alert or Leadcheck (which can be | | | | innocent products like lunchboxes.This article was |
| bought online at leadcheck.com). Both are around $15, | | | | provided by the world's #1 most popular and trusted |
| come with instructions and will give you peace of | | | | holistic living e-newsletter -- FREE to you right now at |
| mind.If the lunchbox tests positive, discontinue use and | | | | The old way of thinking: "holistic living" pertains only to |
| send it to CEHCA. They'll add your contaminated | | | | personal health. The new way of thinking: "holistic living" |
| lunchbox to their investigation.Symptoms of Lead | | | | means prevention of the negative and adherence to |
| PoisoningLead has no known physiologic value to the | | | | the positive in all SIX practical areas of life: relationships, |
| human body. Exposure to lead comes primarily from | | | | finances, career, home environment, safety and health. |
| breathing in or ingesting lead.Lead can impair brain | | | | With the e-newsletter, you will get holistic wisdom from |
| development and cause hearing problems, brain/nerve | | | | the world's top experts in all six of these areas -- |
| damage, stunted growth, digestive problems, and | | | | completely FREE with a simple sign-up (and a |
| reproductive problems (including infertility and | | | | guaranteed no-spam policy! |