Study shines light on lead content in Christmas lights

A new study posted from product information company The Ecology Center indicates four out of five popular brands of Christmas lights contain lead, with 54% having greater levels than permitted in children’s products, according to Bloomberg News.  

The study also showed 28% of the 68 products tested showed higher levels of lead than the 1,000 parts per million allowable in Europe for electronics.  

Currently, the Consumer Products Safety Commission’s standard for lead in children’s products is 300 ppm, but is scheduled to drop by 100 ppm next year.  

According to the article, a CPSC spokesperson pointed out that Christmas lights aren’t intended as children’s products, and parents shouldn’t allow their children to handle them.  

The lead is used to stabilize the casing to provide adaquate heat shielding, according to the article.