Landmark Agreement Ends Lead Threats in Handbags from National Vendors and Retailers
Oakland, CA-The Center for Environmental Health today announced a nearly $1.7 million legal agreement with more than 40 major retailers and vendors, including Macy’s, Sears/Kmart, Target, Kohl’s, JC Penney, Guess, Victoria’s Secret, Saks and others, of handbags, purses, wallets and other accessories sold in stores nationwide. The agreement follows CEH findings released last year that hundreds of purses and other accessories contain high levels of lead that can pose a health threat, especially to pregnant women and women of child-bearing age. CEH and the companies intend by this agreement to “set new industry-wide standards” limiting lead in handbags and other fashion accessories.
“Today’s settlement means millions of women no longer need to fear that their purse may pose a threat to their health or the health of their children,” said Michael Green, CEH Executive Director. “We expect that every company that makes, imports, distributes or sells purses and other accessories will join these leading companies in meeting these health standards for their consumers.” The settlement allows other accessory companies to opt-in to the Judgment by agreeing to reformulate their products and make a monetary payment.
Lead exposure has been linked to higher rates of infertility in women, an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure, among other health problems. Scientists are increasingly concerned that there is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for pregnant women and young children. A recent study concluded that lead exposure during pregnancy could have “lasting and possibly permanent effects” on a child’s IQ, and another study showed that lead exposure during the first trimester (three month period), when some women are not even aware that they are pregnant, had the most pronounced effects on a child’s mental development. A 2009 study showed that chronic low-level lead exposures in young women could lead to impaired mental functioning as they age.
Federal law requires that materials in products for children contain no more than 300 parts per million (ppm) of lead. But there is no federal standard for lead in purses. Under today’s agreement, the following handbag standards will be implemented by the settling companies for covered products by December 1, 2010:
- No more than 90 parts per million (ppm) of lead in paint or other surface coatings;
- No more than 600 ppm of lead in leather (going down to 300 ppm by December 1, 2011);
- No more than 300 ppm of lead in vinyl (going down to 200 ppm by December 1, 2011);
- No more than 300 ppm of lead in any other materials (except crystals).
Violations of these standards could result in mandatory fines of up to $12,500. In addition to handbags and accessories, many of the companies in today’s settlement agreed to apply these standards for materials used in belts and/or footwear.
The settling companies have also agreed to payments totaling nearly $1.7 million, which includes payments to the State of California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, payments to help fund CEH’s ongoing work to educate and protect Californians from toxic health hazards, payments to help defer CEH’s legal expenses, and money from each company towards a testing fund to be used by CEH to monitor for compliance with the terms of the agreement.
CEH’s legal work has previously uncovered lead threats from toys, vinyl baby bibs, diaper creams and children’s medicines, lunchboxes, children’s jewelry, automobile wheel weights, and many other products. CEH has a ten-year track record of protecting consumers from hidden health hazards and protecting communities from health hazards related to toxic pollution. CEH also works with major industries and leaders in green business to promote healthier alternatives to toxic products and practices.
Below is a list of the the companies who have agreed to meet strict lead standards (Most will meet the standards by no later than Decemeber 1, 2010. H&M is already in compliance. Haddad Accessories, New York and Company, and Tri-Coastal Designs will meet the standards by Septemeber 1, 2010):
Acme Accessories
AIJJ (Rainbow, 5-7-9 stores)
Aldo
American Eagle
Bag Bazaar
Camuto Consulting (Vince Camuto brand)
Coldwater Creek
Diesel usa
DSW Shoe Warehouse
eBags
Express
Fantasia Accessories
Forever 21
Fossil
Guess
Haddad Accessories
H&M
JC Penney
Jones Apparel (Nine West)
Kohl’s
Limited
Liz Claiborne (Juicy Couture, Kate Spade)
Macy’s/Bloomingdales
Mango NY
Metropark USA
Michael Kohrs
Mondani
New York & Company (Lerner NY)
Pacific Worldwide
Phillips-Van Heusen/Calvin Klein
Ray Enterprises (Hobo Intl)
Rosetti
Saks Inc
San Diego Hat
Sanrio (Hello Kitty)
Sears/Kmart
Steve Madden
Target
The Dress Barn
TJX Co (TJ Maxx)
Urban Brands/Ashley Stewart
Tri-Coastal Designs
Victoria Secret/Bath & Body Works
Viewmark USA
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