EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 9 AM PACIFIC TIME, WEDNESDAY APRIL 8, 2009

Contact: Caroline Cox, 510-655-3900 x308; Charles Margulis, 510-697-0615 (cell)

Products from Target, Macy's, WalMart and other retailers found in violation of California law

Oakland, CA-High levels of lead have been found in dozens of vinyl and faux leather women's handbags, purses and wallets purchased from Bay Area outlets of major retailers, according to testing by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH). The accessories were found to violate California standards for lead exposure under the state's Proposition 65 consumer protection law. The material on the accessories tested at up to 90 times higher than the federal lead paint standard (federal regulations limit lead in paint to no more than 600 ppm).

"We know that women use their purses to carry almost anything, but most women would be shocked to learn that they are carrying lead in their purses," said CEH Research Director Caroline Cox. "With safer materials available, there is no reason that anyone should be selling these lead-tainted products."

Purses and other accessories found with high lead levels were purchased from major retailers, including Target, WalMart, Macy's, Kohl's, Sears, JC Penney's, Ross, and other Bay Area stores. Products with high lead levels were found at all but five of the 21 retailers from which the nonprofit shopped. Brands found with high lead levels include Nine West, xhilaration (a Target store brand), Rosetti and several others. CEH initiated legal action against the retailers and accessory makers today for violating Proposition 65.

CEH is advising women, and especially pregnant women, to avoid vinyl and faux leather accessory bags and to keep these accessories away from children. Lead was found in bags of all colors, and was prevalent in yellow and yellow-tinted (eg, green and orange) bags, suggesting that lead could be contained in the material and/or in the yellow dye.

Scientists are increasingly concerned that there is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for pregnant women and young children. Two recent studies, both published in the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences's peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives, demonstrated the impacts that lead exposure during pregnancy can have on a women's unborn child.

One study, investigating children's IQ scores in relation to their mother's blood lead level, concluded that lead exposure during pregnancy could have "lasting and possibly permanent effects" on a child's IQ. The second 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.

Lead is also listed by the EPA and other agencies as a cancer-causing chemical, and 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.

CEH's legal work has previously uncovered lead threats from toys, vinyl baby bibs, children's jewelry 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.  

The retailers we found selling bags that contain high levels of lead include:

1. Kohl's
2. Target
3. Macy's
4. JCPenney
5. H&M
6. Wal-Mart
7. Aldos
8. Ross
9. Forever 21
10. New York and Co.
11. Ashley Stewart
12. 5-7-9
13. Bakers Shoes
14. Sears
15. DSW

The brands of bags we found that contain high levels of lead include:

• lulu NYC
• xhilaration
• Steve Madden
• Chinese Laundry
• Rosetti
• Liz & Co.
• H&M
• No Boundaries
• Aldo
• Quicksilver
• twentyone
• New York & Co.
• Ashley Stewart
• 5-7-9
• Bakers
• cul-de-sac
• Urban Expressions

For more information, including a list of retailers and brands of accessories found with high levels of lead, see www.ceh.org .