The holidays are a time of joy, celebration and family. Part of the fun and festive atmosphere, and our traditions are the decorations we display during this time of year. We'd like to believe that if it's for sale it's safe, but as most of us know, that just isn't the case. We have to be diligent consumers this time of year just like the other 11 months of the year. Unfortunately, some of our favorite holiday decorations may be harmful to our health.
Many of us like artificial Christmas trees because they are convenient, don't dry out, aren't fire hazards, and they come in a wide array of fun colors and shapes. Unfortunately, most of them are made from PVC (vinyl). There are a whole host of problems with PVC:
• It off gasses
• contains phthalates
• breaks down in heat and sun
• contains lead which becomes lead dust and spreads throughout your home
• Doesn't biodegrade and are difficult to recycle
I love my white iridescent Martha Stewart tree that I bought off Craigslist last year...a week before I learned about the lead and phthalate issue. I justified the purchase by arguing (with myself) that if I was buying it 2nd hand I wasn't contributing to the plastic pollution problem because I was keeping it out of the landfill. Now, I am thinking it may not be the best idea to put my lovely white tree up. Which is too bad because it looks really great next to my turquoise walls covered in red peppermint themed decorations.
Keep in mind that many of these issues also apply to plastic ornaments. Many of us like plastic ornaments because they don't break, especially when we have young children in the house, but weigh that danger against the danger of phthalate and lead exposure.
Reports have also come out showing that the cords on most holiday lights contain lead at higher levels that what is allowable for toys. California has recently mandated that all holiday lights have label on them warning about lead exposure.
So far I haven't seen any recalls of lights for lead, nor any warnings not to use them. The warnings all say to be sure to wear gloves and/or wash your hands immediately after touching them. And, don't let your children touch them. Keep in mind that the bending and twisting that goes along with installing and removing lights inside means there is a possibility of being exposed to lead dust.
I'm not saying you should or shouldn't use any of the above decorations. But, I want you to be aware of the dangers associated with them and decide for yourself if it's worth the risk to your family.
And, it's sad that I have to write this post at all. Wouldn't it be nice if we could trust that before products were put on the shelves they were tested to ensure we aren't endangering the health of our families? It's sad we have to think about these things at this joyous time of year.
Many of us like artificial Christmas trees because they are convenient, don't dry out, aren't fire hazards, and they come in a wide array of fun colors and shapes. Unfortunately, most of them are made from PVC (vinyl). There are a whole host of problems with PVC:
• It off gasses
• contains phthalates
• breaks down in heat and sun
• contains lead which becomes lead dust and spreads throughout your home
• Doesn't biodegrade and are difficult to recycle
I love my white iridescent Martha Stewart tree that I bought off Craigslist last year...a week before I learned about the lead and phthalate issue. I justified the purchase by arguing (with myself) that if I was buying it 2nd hand I wasn't contributing to the plastic pollution problem because I was keeping it out of the landfill. Now, I am thinking it may not be the best idea to put my lovely white tree up. Which is too bad because it looks really great next to my turquoise walls covered in red peppermint themed decorations.
Keep in mind that many of these issues also apply to plastic ornaments. Many of us like plastic ornaments because they don't break, especially when we have young children in the house, but weigh that danger against the danger of phthalate and lead exposure.
Reports have also come out showing that the cords on most holiday lights contain lead at higher levels that what is allowable for toys. California has recently mandated that all holiday lights have label on them warning about lead exposure.
So far I haven't seen any recalls of lights for lead, nor any warnings not to use them. The warnings all say to be sure to wear gloves and/or wash your hands immediately after touching them. And, don't let your children touch them. Keep in mind that the bending and twisting that goes along with installing and removing lights inside means there is a possibility of being exposed to lead dust.
I'm not saying you should or shouldn't use any of the above decorations. But, I want you to be aware of the dangers associated with them and decide for yourself if it's worth the risk to your family.
And, it's sad that I have to write this post at all. Wouldn't it be nice if we could trust that before products were put on the shelves they were tested to ensure we aren't endangering the health of our families? It's sad we have to think about these things at this joyous time of year.
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