Press Releases

Leading Bounce House Makers Agree to Strict Lead Limits

May 4, 2011

Oakland, CA-Two leading producers of children’s bounce houses, Ninja Jump and Einflatables, have agreed to strict limits on lead in their products, according to a legal settlement to be signed in Alameda County court today. The legal settlements are the first to follow the lawsuit filed last August 11 by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) and the California attorney general, after a CEH investigation found high levels of lead in many vinyl bounce houses.

“We applaud these companies for taking strong steps to eliminate lead risks to children from bounce houses,” said Caroline Cox, CEH Research Director. “We expect the entire bounce house industry to follow suit, so children and their parents no longer need to worry about lead hazards at birthday parties.” CEH is continuing negotiations over lawsuits the nonprofit filed against several other bouncehouse makers, including two companies that make vinyl for use in bounce houses(for the full list of outstanding defendants, see www.ceh.org. The two vinyl manufacturers, Seattle Textile Company and Naizil Inc., marketed their vinyl as lead-free, but testing found high lead levels in vinyl bounce houses made with the companies’ vinyl.

Ninja Jump (based in Los Angeles) and Einflatables (Funtastic Factory, Inc, based in Santa Fe Springs, CA) are leading makers of bounce houses supplied to many retail bounce house party outlets and to independent companies that rent and deliver bounce houses to individuals, festivals and events. In today’s settlements, the two companies agreed to limit lead in their future bounce houses to no more than 100 parts per million (ppm); independent testing commissioned by CEH last year found one bounce house made by another company with nearly 300 times more lead than this new limit. The companies also agreed to inform their past buyers of the lead problem and to offer lead testing and replacement of or discounts on certain lead-tainted bounce houses.

Bounce houses are often made with vinyl (polyvinyl chloride, or PVC), a “poison plastic” that can contain lead, a neurotoxin that can cause learning disorders, brain andnerve damage, hearing problems, stunted growth, and digestive problems. Scientists are increasingly convinced that there is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for young children.

CEH has a fourteen-year track record of protecting communities from the health impacts of toxic pollution and has previously uncovered lead and other toxic health threats to children from wood playground structures, toys, vinyl baby bibs and lunchboxes, imported candies, children’s jewelry, children’s medicines, andmany other products. CEH also works with major industries and leaders in green business to promote healthier alternatives to toxic products and practices.Earlier this year the San Francisco Business Times bestowed its annual “Green Champion” award to CEH for its work to improve health and the environment in the Bay Area and beyond.

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Settled Defendants (February 23, 2011)

  • Funtastic Factory, Inc. dba einflatables.com
  • Ninja Jump, Inc.

Active cases:

  • Magic Jump, Inc
  • Jump for Fun National, Inc. & Jump for Fun, Inc.
  • Thrillworks, Inc
  • Jingo Jump, Inc.
  • Elite Inflatables*
  • Inflatable Games, Inc.
  • Tool King Motor Company
  • Happy Jump, Inc.
  • Jungle Jumps
  • Party On! Rental
  • Naizil Coated Fabrics, Inc. & Naizil, Inc. (vinyl manufacturer)
  • Seattle Textile Company (vinyl manufacturer)
  • CSN Stores, Inc. & CSN Stores, LLC (distributor)