Lead In Christmas Lights

As early as 2008 a lead study was performed by Lelia M. Coyne, a chemist and lead risk assessor in Nebraska, and Mark R. Pierce, a Cornell extension associate in Laquatra’s department (what ever that means). The two researchers did extensive lead tests on 10 sets of indoor/outdoor  Christmas lights bought in the 1970’s and lights bought in the 2008. The lead levels where nearly indistinguishable. The 10 sets of lights had similar lead profiles even though they were bought almost 40 years apart. The test for lead paint that they used showed that 2-5 percent of the PVC jacketing contained lead. You can read more about this study here.

This year I tested every set of Christmas lights I could find. I did not find a single solitary set that did not turn our lead test kits red. You have got to be kidding me? How is this even possible?

So I was reading about another study conducted by Jusko et al. in the mid nineties of children in Rochester New York. The study concluded that significantly lower IQs could be directly contributed to lead levels. What I took away from the study was that there was no low safe level of lead in a child’s blood . Lead, at every level, caused IQ problems.

I can’t stress this enough. Follow your doctors guidelines and get you child tested for lead. Replace your Christmas lights with certified lead free ones. If you don’t know that there is a problem than you can’t affect change. If you suspect anything in your house buy a Test for Lead Paint or get a professional to root out this plague/IQ robber.

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Effects of Lead Poisoning

The effects of lead poisoning are compounded the younger the child is. Brains and nervous systems of children under the age of six are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Other effects of lead Poisoning include retarding bone development and bone mass, digestive problems and  reproductive problems later in life. Learning disabilities and lower IQ have been reported as a direct result of lead exposure.

In children, lead can cause:

• Nervous system and kidney damage.
• Learning disabilities, ADD, and decreased intelligence.
• Speech and behavior problems.
• Poor coordination.
• Decreased bone and muscle growth.
• Long term Hearing damage.Take you child to the doctor if you believe that your child has been poisoned by lead. The doctor will be able to do blood testes to better assess the effects of lead poisoning on your child.

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