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Do Your Easter Decorations Have Toxic Lead?

Fri, Mar 5th 2021 09:00 am

While newer decorations manufactured in the United States may not contain lead, if you’ve been hanging onto a box of grandma’s old Easter decorations since as far back as you can remember, or if you’re buying cheap holiday decor online, there is the potential that they could contain lead.

A study from 2014 found that 13 percent of imported seasonal holiday products sold at major retailers like Walmart and CVS contained lead levels that exceeded a threshold deemed safe for children’s toys. This is because the products are not regulated as children’s toys, although they may be handled by children during the holidays.

It can be difficult to know for sure whether or not your Easter decorations contain lead. Parents should be cautious with children around any old or imported holiday ornaments and decorations. While lead exposure is unlikely through skin contact, it very easily can enter the body through the mouth.

If you couldn’t possibly consider the holiday official without putting out Gam Gam’s lovely Ukrainian Easter Egg Pysanka you should probably grab a lead test kit. You can use 3M LeadCheck Swabs, they’re very cheap and super simple to use. Follow the directions on the package, but the basic gist is this: if the swab rubs red, it has lead paint. If it’s yellow, you’re in the clear.