Lead exposure is harmful to health! New York government legislates to require Christmas lights to have warning labels!

On November 30, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a new law requiring warning labels on certain products that use lead wire covers and requiring fines for any manufacturers that violate the legislation. The regulation is intended to protect New Yorkers from lead exposure from holiday lights and other seasonal decorations.

The regulation requires that every SADLP ("Seasonal and Decorative Lighting Product") manufactured, sold, or distributed in New York State must be labeled with a warning label if the lead content of the cord sheath exceeds 100 parts per million. The warning label should contain the following words: "WARNING: Handling the sheathed power cord of this product may expose you to lead. Wash hands thoroughly after use." Any manufacturer that violates this provision will be fined $500.

It’s an open secret that decorative and seasonal holiday lights contain potentially dangerous levels of lead. Some brands of children’s products have been found to contain up to 30 times more lead than regulators allow. A 2008 study published in the Journal of Environmental Health found that nearly all lights tested had lead levels that exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s limits for windowsills and floors.

It is learned that the vast majority of Christmas lights are manufactured overseas, and the wires are generally coated with lead to prevent the plastic from cracking and act as a flame retardant. However, lead exposure can cause serious health problems, including damage to the brain and central nervous system, heart and kidney disease, reduced fertility and depression, and is more harmful to children's health.

Editor ✎ Estella/

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