Lead Candle Wicks Still pose Threat to Consumers
Lead in candle wicks poses a very real threat to consumers even after the ban imposed by the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
Austin, TX, June 20, 2005 --(PR.com)-- Lead in candle wicks poses a very real threat to consumers even after the ban imposed by the Consumer Products Safety Commission in October of 2003, on the manufacture, sale or import of candles containing lead cored wicks.
“Though lead candle wicks are not available in the U.S. they are still available in other countries,” said Howard Cloud, owner of Generic Candle (http://www.genericcandle.com) a leading online retailer of Candles and Candle related items. “Consumers should be aware of who they are buying from and also where those candles are manufactured. If you are not sure where the candles you have were made, then it’s probably a good idea not to burn them.”
“All of the candles that we sell are manufactured in the U.S. and do not contain lead cored wicks,” he said. “We provide consumers with a toll free number to call us if they have questions about the safety of products purchased from us and we can also be contacted through email.”
According to tests conducted by the CPSC as many as 3% of the candles tested may contain unsafe levels of lead.
“There is no simple test to tell if a metal core in a candle wick contains lead. At Generic Candle we think consumers should play it safe and replace the suspect candles if they are not sure about the candles origin,” Mr. Cloud went on to say.
Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation. Although the primary source of lead poisoning in the United States is lead from paint in older homes, lead accumulates in the body, and even exposure to small amounts of lead can contribute to the overall level of lead in the blood.
Children are most likely to be exposed to lead from candles and other sources when they touch or put items in their mouths that have lead dust on them. Lead is much more harmful to children as it is more readily absorbed in their growing bodies.
Candles sold today that use a metallic core in the wick most likely contain zinc. But, because consumers cannot tell if a metal-cored wick contains lead or an alternative, consumers should contact the retailer for information about the materials used in their candles.
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“Though lead candle wicks are not available in the U.S. they are still available in other countries,” said Howard Cloud, owner of Generic Candle (http://www.genericcandle.com) a leading online retailer of Candles and Candle related items. “Consumers should be aware of who they are buying from and also where those candles are manufactured. If you are not sure where the candles you have were made, then it’s probably a good idea not to burn them.”
“All of the candles that we sell are manufactured in the U.S. and do not contain lead cored wicks,” he said. “We provide consumers with a toll free number to call us if they have questions about the safety of products purchased from us and we can also be contacted through email.”
According to tests conducted by the CPSC as many as 3% of the candles tested may contain unsafe levels of lead.
“There is no simple test to tell if a metal core in a candle wick contains lead. At Generic Candle we think consumers should play it safe and replace the suspect candles if they are not sure about the candles origin,” Mr. Cloud went on to say.
Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation. Although the primary source of lead poisoning in the United States is lead from paint in older homes, lead accumulates in the body, and even exposure to small amounts of lead can contribute to the overall level of lead in the blood.
Children are most likely to be exposed to lead from candles and other sources when they touch or put items in their mouths that have lead dust on them. Lead is much more harmful to children as it is more readily absorbed in their growing bodies.
Candles sold today that use a metallic core in the wick most likely contain zinc. But, because consumers cannot tell if a metal-cored wick contains lead or an alternative, consumers should contact the retailer for information about the materials used in their candles.
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