We recently purchased an extension cord at the local Wal-Mart for a dehumidifier. The most useful place for this dehumidifier was in the middle of the house, which was in the hallway outside the children’s bedroom. There is no outlet in that hallway. Hence the need for the extension cord. We planned to run it along the back wall of the children’s room. It would be mostly out of sight, except for the bit that ran in front of the closet. They wouldn’t likely execute themselves, but maybe they’d touch it now and again. And that couldn’t hurt them, right?
Right?
Wrong.
We opened up the package and were greeted by a warning from the state of California. It read:
WARNING: Handling the power cord on this product will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause [cancer and] birth defects or other reproductive harm. WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING
Lead. You know, the reason the government is planning on banning all things child-related that hasn’t undergone expensive testing? The reason work-at-home-moms everywhere will be closing their Etsy shops in February?
Lead. In the extension cord. We went back to exchange if for one that didn’t contain lead. Surely this was an anomily, right?
Wrong. We read the packaging on every singe cord Wal-Mart sells. Lead in all of them.
Raise your hand if you have an extension cord in your house.
Or a surge protector.
(Yep, those too. We checked.)
And to make it even scarier, all it takes it handling the cord for 10 seconds to leave traces of lead on your fingers. And think of all the things you touch. Babies, food, pacifiers, silverware…
After reading this, I began the internet search for lead-free power cords. And I found that the European Union (they seem to beat us to everything, don’t they?) has already “ban[ned] the placing on the EU market of new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.” Their cords are RoHS (Restricion of Hazardous Materials) compliant.
However, the shipping of their cords cost more than the cords themselves.
So, after Googling “RoHS compliant extension cords”, I found a US company with an RoHS compliant 10 foot cord on sale (cheaper than Wal-Mart!) with reasonable shipping. (The total came to $11.94.) We bought one. After discussing the replacement of all extension cords and surge protectors in the house, we came to the conclusion that the only necessary one was the one that was to go through the children’s bedroom.
We’ll just have to keep eagle eyes on the children when they approach the back of the entertainment center or computer desk. And only touch said cords with rags.
But I thought you should know. Please, spread the word!
Oh my gosh! I’m not usually the type of person to go crazy about things like this, but this is really, really scary. We have extension cords everywhere. And my friends and family with kids – they have extension cords everywhere. And I just realized – we use an extension cord every day to plug in our microwave at work to eat! Blech.
Stuff like that stinks! Our kids touch so much more than the toys and such marketed to them.
Hi Beth! Christimas lights also have that California warning….our lights are a couple of years old so maybe they’ve changed now but I doubt it!!
Seems kinda reactionary to me. The FDA/EPA has pretty strict limits on things like lead, and to follow California’s way on every item seems pretty foolish. Did you know it is now a felony in california to sell incandesent light bulbs, as only compact fluorescents are allowed to be sold, which, also contain cancer-causing agents, and are appropriately labeled for the state of Calif. I mean, if California could, they’d stick a label on the sun that reads: “Sunlight has been known to the State of California to cause [cancer and] birth defects or other reproductive harm.” The same would go for carrots (they contain Vit A, a known teratogen), dust bunnies (they have been linked to an increase in lung cancer), and even coffee and tea (if steaped too long, chemicals released by each of these has been shown to increase liver and colon cancer).
If these cords were really that big of a deal, you’d see more stuff on it from mainstream outlets. Let me tell you, if they really were a danger, you’d see adds in every major newspaper and television station advertising class-action law suits against the manufacturers and distributors.
I wouldn’t let your kids play with the cords…but NOT becuase of the risk of lead, but because of the risk of strangulation or electrocution, which are far more likely than and danger posed by lead.
Oh wow. I had no clue. THANK YOU! We have 2 surge protectors … which I’m sure we will be replacing now.
Yep, we’ve seen the CA warnings too. You’ll find some degree of lead in just about anything made with PVC: electrical cords, phone cords, artificial christmas trees and christmas lights, electrical tape, and some plastic mini blinds.
It’s more toxic to young children because their body mass is smaller and lead accumulates in the bones and organs. Throw in a genetic predisposition to a neurological defect or with an impaired ability to detox and it can be a danger. Sorry, can you tell I’m an autism mom?
It’d be virtually impossible to eliminate every trace of environmental lead (hey, there’s even traces of lead in the air we breath and the soil in our gardens), so I think reasonable accomodations for avoidance are a good idea. Kudos to you for ordering a lead-free one.
I talked to my cousin’s husband, who is an electrical engineer and is crazy protective about everything. But, he was more calm than I and he said that this really applies more to things that are outside. But if your cords have a warning, just don’t gnaw on them like his dogs 😉 And if you can, try to get PVC-free cords, but if you can’t, just wash your hands before eating.
On a related note…. Ive heard many garden hoses contain lead too. Not so much a worry now in the dead of winter here with snow on the ground… but something to look into
I’m not sure I’d worry about the cord as much, definately think more about making sure the kids don’t touch it.
Wonder about my vaccum cleaners cord, they seem to LOVE that one….. hmmm.
As others have said, I’ve seen the same warning on Christmas lights. Yeah, not a fan, and I think it’s great you found a way to get a certified one.
To Alli- this may not be something to freak out about, but when given the choice of a healthier option, there’s nothing wrong with taking it, especially if the cost isn’t significantly different.
Good Grief, is poison everywhere? Thanks for sharing what you found. I need to wake up and read ALL the warning labels ALL the time. I’ve got a little person to think about now.
Maybe it’s just because I don’t have kids of my own yet, but it seems like this isn’t really that big of a deal. Trace amounts of lead are just that – trace amounts. The only reason why lead-based paint is even considered dangerous is because multiple kids were actually eating multiple paint chips on multiple occasions, not just touching the paint and then eating dinner without washing their hands. I think your kids will be fine as long as they are gnawing on the extension cords regularly – and if they are, I would be much more worried about them being electrocuted!
The power cord on my electric KNIFE (of all things) has the same tag on it. No thanks.
Christmas lights are offenders too 🙁
Alli, I wish that were the case in America, but it isn’t. I don’t know if you saw it, but Beth pointed out that in Europe, they ARE concerned and have banned what the US considers safe–due to the special interest lobbyists 😉
I just bought a Black and Decker iron. I returned the first one because it had a tag attached to the power cord that said the same thing as your dehumidifier. I thought if I upgraded to a better iron, it would be safe. This time, the same warning was printed in small letters ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX. And what is the purpose of washing your hands? Since when is water a cure for cancer?!
I was appalled. I e-mailed all my friends, who were equally upset and angry. Unfortunately, I have to iron. It looks like I have no choice in the matter, and that is criminal.
Here we are, trying to be environmentally alert, trying to do all the right things for our bodies, and yet the powers that be can put out shoddy merchandise that is dangerous to our health. Do we, as consumers, have any recourse? This is an outrage.
Beth,
There are alternatives available. Try the latest power strips from Belkin that read “RoHS” compliant. Also appliances from Panasonic, e.g. irons and vacuum cleaners also meet the requirements.
Most curling irons and flat irons for hair styling also have this warning. I don’t want to have crazy frizzy hair, but I want to keep myself and my children safe from the hazards of lead exposure. But then I think about all the hair stylists who use them every day and we haven’t heard anything about a lawsuit from them.
I am so angry that a country such as our wonderful USA could allow this to happen. A lot of this lead based junk comes from China, but other countries also I am sure. What can we do as concerned citizens? Surely there is someone we can complain to?
No wonder so many people have cancer. I say bring back glass bottles to drink from and our country should NOT buy from those who would poison our children and grandchildren.
Does anyone know if all power cords contain lead, and if so, if they present any real danger?
Mrs. Taft: what “special interests” exactly would those be? The electric-cord industry? Yeah, there really known for big lobbyist efforts. The EU is well-known to be just as regulatory as CA. Of course, if you can get cords with less lead all the better, but some information about how much lead is in the cords and what is considered safe would make this article and the CA warnings MUCH more helpful and less prone to make people panic without any information.
Many of the products made in China are produced FOR companies that are based in “our wonderful USA,” so your hubris is at best ill-informed. In other words, American companies are just as much to blame for 1) offshoring production and 2) not overseeing production with higher safety standards.
our christmas lights this 2010 would be made up from light emitting diodes which does not generates so much heat..’
I have ordered RoHs compliant Christmas lights – solar and 120v – from eBay from seller called 18 direct. 😉 yay!! Contact me if you need more info 😉 or search for them on eBay
Thanks for writing this article. I’ve been complaining about this problem for years. It seems that the good ole U.S. of A. is one of the last dumping grounds around for hazardous materials in consumer goods, because the manufacturer/retailers don’t care (as long as they can make a buck).
And it’s not just extension cords… it’s many , if not most, most electrical/electronic consumer goods from headphones to even garden hoses. When I call a manufacturer to find out what’s in their products they act as though I’m the only one who ever asked that question, and often hide what’s in their products by saying it’s a “proprietary” secret (and they know it’s not a secret from their competition, but the consumer). Make sure you demand safe products for your kids. That’s the only way things will change.
Adrew is right about our own US based companies, but keep in mind that many of the “contaminated” products are coming from countries that have standards, directives or regulations that do not allow them to sell these same products in their own countries. There is plenty of blame to go around, including consumers who don’t educate themselves and demand safer products. That’s how those hazardous materials were banned in those other countries.
Personally, I’ve read more of these warnings on consumer goods for use inside the home, and even by children, like ear buds for mp3 players.
You don’t have to gnaw on a product to be exposed to the hazardous material. Once you handle it your hands are contaminated, and then so is everything else you touch until your wash your hands, The contamination is insidious, and is spread around everytime you handle the product. And when your kids share this environment with you and end up putting numerous things into their mouths??? And most people don’t know that most hazardous materials are absorbed right through the skin. That’s why many medications are now coming in skin ‘patch’ forms.
Demand safer alternatives from manufacturers and retailers. They’ll make just as much money on those, and maybe even more.
Yes many garden hoses do. Some manufacturers use lead as a plasticizer in synthetic materials to keep them flexible, like hoses and electical cords. There are safe alternatives, but they choose not to use them. Most brass also contains lead, so you’ll find lead in the hose fittings, as well.
I just bought a vacuum cleaner with the same warning for its cords. A vacuum is something we use on a regular basis. How many times have we touched a vacuum cord…think about it…pretty scary stuff, huh?
Oh my gosh I just bought a Black & Decker iron with the same label ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX which is why I was reading this site in the first place. Are there any irons with lead free cords? And, if so, where I can I find them??
I’m an eighteen year old male and my mom is the one that tells me I’m ridiculous for worrying about this kind of stuff. I just found out last night that, on top of the tons of other things I was already aware contain lead, electrical cords contain lead, as well. I use a mini-heater when I take showers to keep the bathroom nice and warm, and I always unplug the cord after a shower without thinking that I’ve been contaminated (I mean, after all, I just took a shower). Then, I do things like eat, rub my nose or face, etc. Now, my mind is speculate how much (to be optimistic: if any) damage I’ve done over the years.
Supposedly, these cords contain 300 parts per million (which I believe any lead to be too much), but children’s toys are allowed to contain up to that much lead in the “Great” (not to mention dangerous) United States. Kids are a long way off for me, so I’m concerned for my personal health right now.
I got a lead blood test a few weeks ago, which showed unmeasurable amounts of lead in my blood, thankfully. But, on top of that test, I’ve not been able to find how long lead actually stays in the blood before it is deposited in the bones/tissues. Does anyone know?
Also, it’s nice to see more people aware and concerned about our needless exposure to things such as lead.
speculating*
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Maybe we should be using latex gloves like doctors do. Someone should make these companies provide them with their toxic products.
I just bough Black & Decker iron, and read the warning that the cord indeed has lead in it. I iron all my child’s clothes! That means lead would be all over my child every day, since it takes only 10 second to transmit the heavy metal to anything it touches.
I returned it, and I purchased the Sunbeam iron, at Wal-Mart. It has an Intertek sticker on the bottom of the box saying that it is RoHS certified – green certification.
I will keep this one. Who would think that Black & Decker uses worst cables than Sunbeam?! I thought B&D is reputable company. In any case, being myself from EU I regreat we do not have the same laws here in the US. Not only regarding lead, but PVC, and other harmful chemicals too.
Thank You for sharing your article with us, moms.
Susan,
Unfortunately, the US has become the dumping ground for products with harmful materials in them. Europe doesn’t allow them to be sold there.
I actually had a manufacturer tell me that they were shipping a batch of products to Europe, but when the tests came back showing lead contamination on the exterior of the products they were re-directed to the US for sale.
Unless, consumers demand safer products they will never get them. Call the manufacturer and make your voice heard. At first you’ll get flippant dismissive answers (like I did), but that was because the people on the phones didn’t have a clue. You can educate them, and make changes for the better.
I just found out about all this b/c I was looking at buying a little handheld Red Devil steam cleaner to help me disinfect and sterilize things around the house. I have severe health problems that cause severe pain and I really need to keep certain things sterile to prevent infections and added pain. So I wanted to buy the steam cleaner to help me do that. But was just reading the reviews for it and saw one by someone that found this same exact warning on the cord for the hand held steam cleaner! It freaked me out and so I started to research it and found this site. The persons review didn’t actually say anything about the lead just that the cord of that product can cause cancer, defects and in their words “impotence” which I haven’t seen anyone else here mention but I am guessing it has to be the same warning. But now I am really wondering is it worth buying something to sterilize things like bathroom faucets and other things that I have to touch before I have to catheterize (the reason I am so prone to infection) but now I have to worry about lead from the hand held steamer instead??? It’s so confusing, whats a person to do?
I am shocked to find out that all these different appliances that we all use daily to try to keep our homes clean and safe for ourselves, and our children, but the appliances themselves are the things putting our health at risk. So which is worse dirt, and germs or Lead? How can we clean our homes without putting our health at more risk? this is ridiculous how is this allowed? It sounds like pretty much anything with a cord leaves lead on your hands, most people probably can’t even count how many different power cords they touch throughout the day. What about coffee makers and toasters? You are making your food in these things, yet you are supposed to wash your hands before eating after touching the cords on the appliances you are making your food in? Does that make any sense to anyone or is it just me? It just seems really wrong! What if anything can we do about this? I mean even if you can find safe power cords you can’t actually change the cords on most appliances. So are there any brands that use safe cords instead, and how do you find out before you buy something, especially online? There really doesn’t seem to be anyway around having to handle these power cords on a daily basis. Normally I wouldn’t be all that worried about it but I am already home bound from severe pain and health problems, this sucks!
Who do we write to or call to complain and at least hopefully get this changed for the future generations?
Thank you for writing this blog it has definatley helped. Hopefully you don’t mind me adding my 2 cents . I just want to guarentee girls are informed how vital hair quality is. There is so many variaties of hair extensions it’s plain dumb to make a purchase prior to realizing the texture difference between chinese, brazilian, malaysian, indian, and european hair, and ways to make sure that they aren’t buying synthetic. Most girls make their purchase according to price . Bad idea. Is your hair’s apperance and health worth saving a few dollars? No. Not even hundreds. Don’t buy unqualified extensions! When you’re going to do something do it right the first time. A little research will proove that the ONLY hair worth purchasing is European Remy and Brazilian Remy Hair becasue it is guarenteed to be voluntarilly cut and donated in those countries. They aren’t forced to loose their beautiful hair so someone can make a quick buck off of it. That is how the hair business works in different areas. I don’t know about you girls but I would be way more comfortable purchasing better quality hair that also does not make myself wonder if I am paying a scam artist who has tortured women, forcing these ladies to shave their head bald:( A great online store to order European Remy and Brazlian Remy Extensions for the lowest price is without a doubt http://www.hairbysar.myshopify.com . Low prices and you get more for your money as they sell 1 gram strands only compared to similar websites who sell .4-.5g strand(s).
Yes, I think you’ve hit the nail just on the head here, Sherrill.
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who had been doing a little homework on this. And he actually bought me breakfast because I discovered it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to talk about this issue here on your internet site.
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If you want a lead-free extension cord try the Ridgid 50ft cords sold by home depot. At least two of them say that they meet the RoHS and Proposition 65 requirements. I believe that this means no lead or cancer causing materials. Go to the Home Depot’s website and put the model # AW62623 into the search to find it.
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Thanks for the post. I also just got an extension cord and read “WARNING: The power cord on this product contains lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.” I went to ACE Hardware: ALL their cords have lead and show (FINE PRINT at the back!) similar warning. I found an interesting website: http://www.trueblade.com/business-blog/poisonous-lead-in-electrical-power-cords with some info. I also found a company that sells RoHS compliant cords: Tripp Lite, you may have a look here http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/power-strips.cfm
I just bought their power strip on amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000L4H2S8/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and I’m gonna return the poisonous garbage by coleman cable http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015XIPN0/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hope this helps people who find this post. Good luck. Cancer? Birth defects or other reproductive harm anybody? We all seem to raise our hands to that, because of our ignorance. I think we should start pushing for basic safety/health measures.
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Thanks for sharing this. High levels of any of these metals can cause the thyroid to go hay wire. I have an autoimmune thyroid condition and I had 2 separate occasions where I became very ill caused by a filling that broke in my mouth and by one of the new lightbulbs breaking. another reason to be concerned is the Cancer aspect http://www.anh-usa.org/compact-fluorescent-light-bulbs-a-new-cancer-risk-in-your-home/
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