|  | Public Health Safety | Environmental Health

Artificial Trees With Lead

Many advantages exist with artificial trees over real Christmas trees. Cost is a chief advantage, since you do not have to buy them over and over every Christmas. Furthermore, they do not shed needles, which make them maintenance-free. Unfortunately, some Christmas trees contain lead, which is a known health hazard.

  1. Lead Indentified

    • Professor Richard Maas of the University of North Carolina studied a sample of artificial Christmas trees in 2002. He discovered lead in three out of every four trees in the sample group. According to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), 85 per cent of artificial trees are imported from China, and are made out of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Furthermore, the NCTA stated that lead is found in PVC, therefore it is found in artificial trees. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), about 50 million households have artificial trees. If three out of every four in the sample was contaminated, that's 75 per cent of the trees, and 75 percent of 50 million is roughly 37 million households.

    Exposure

    • According to the National Institutes of Health, even moderate lead exposure is a hazard. Exposure to lead in trees is minimal, but could pose a significant threat to young children.

    Warning

    • In California, Proposition 65 stipulates that Christmas trees carry a health warning label. This label identifies the tree as having possible lead contamination, and advises the user to wash hands after handling the tree.

    Test Kits

    • According to Prof. Maas, a test kit is available from the University of North Carolina to test your tree. You collect samples from your tree, and mail the samples to a lab. For a fee of $15, the lab will test the samples, and send you a report on the lead levels found.

    Recommendations

    • Wash hands thoroughly after handling an artifical tree.

      Do not allow children to touch the tree. Wash hands thoroughly after handling the tree. Third, Prof. Maas recommends you do not vacuum under the tree if your vacuum cleaner does not have a HEPA filter. Vacuuming without a HEPA filter will spread fine lead particles into the air, creating an inhalation hazard.

Environmental Health - Related Articles