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