Study Finds Toxic Chemicals in Mardi Gras Beads

A new research study has found that holiday garlands and mardi gras beads may contain hazardous chemicals such as lead, flame retardants, and phthalates, which are linked to cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm.

The study, which was a collaboration between the Ecology Center and Verdigras (an organization dedicated to “greening” Mardi Gras), tested over a hundred beaded products, including holiday garlands and mardi gras beads, and found that most of them contained lead in excess of the federal standard, as well as phthalate chemicals and brominated and halogenated flame retardants.  All of these hazardous chemicals are known to the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm, and many of these flame retardants are restricted chemicals in some states.

One Fox News story noted that these beads are made out of recycled plastic and electronic waste, which are often loaded with toxic chemicals.  The colorful beads are especially appealing to children, but they do not fall under the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s definition of toys and are not regulated as such.

The complete study can be found at HealthyStuff.org.

The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers who, acting in the public interest, commence actions against businesses offering products for sale in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm without first providing the health hazard warning required by Proposition 65. Citizen enforcers bringing Proposition 65 actions in the public interest may obtain a Court Judgment imposing civil penalties, an injunction requiring reformulation of products, and/or provision of health hazard warnings. The Chanler Group has represented citizen enforcers of Proposition 65 for more than twenty years.