PVC blinds: a source of brain-damaging lead

[charlie.cray@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      cpc@igc.apc.org
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Original-TO:      cchw@essential.org
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Original-TO:      dioxin-l@essential.org
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April 29, 1996
 
PVC MAKERS: BLIND(S) TO THE FACTS
 
Original-TO: Vinyl busters.
 
A new scandal is breaking in the US right now on PVC window
blinds.  
 
The state of North Carolina has been investigating sources of
indoor lead contamination to order to protect children from these
sources.
 
Interestingly, PVC window blinds have turned out to be a serious
source of lead.  The state lab tested 78 PVC blind samples (all
of them have been in use in homes, daycares, etc).  42 dust
samples were taken and 36 clipping samples.
 
Twenty of the 42 dust samples exceeded 500 micrograms of lead per
square foot which is the standard for lead contamination of
window sill dust.  Fifteen other dust samples contained lead
levels that exceeded 100 micrograms/square foot.  The highest
level reported was 66,400 micrograms/square foot.  Excluding the
extremely high sample, the average for the other 41 samples was
1,475 ug/ft2.
 
Twenty seven of the 35 clippings exceeded 0.5 percent lead by
weight, the level defining a lead hazard.  The highest
concentration reported was 2.07 percent and the average for the
36 samples was 0.75 percent.
 

The state is now recommending that PVC mini blinds be removed
from homes and daycare centers.  At least three lead poisonings
of children in the state has been linked to these blinds.  
 
The Arizona Dept. of Health also found the same problem with the
vinyl blinds.  
 
Check and see what your health department is doing!
 
At first the state of NC believed only imported blinds had the
problem, but it has since stated that most vinyl blinds you can
purchase in retail stores contain lead.
 
Government officials are speculating that sunlight could be
breaking down the vinyl blinds or the paint, as they were unable
to locate other sources of lead in the homes and daycare centers
they checked.  The Vinyl lovers claim that other lead sources are
to blame.
 
Chicago television (NBC-5) did its own testing and found
similarly high levels in the following blinds:
 
Prisma Jancraft
Color Classics
Lotus and Windoware
Kmart MB
Kirsch Cooper
Jancraft
Spectrim/Newell
Basic Trends
Ultima MB Window Concepts
Sunsations
 
Hopefully the US Consumer Product Safety Commission will come out
with some regulation around lead in window blinds sometime soon.  

  

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