We have recently purchased a real christmas tree and with a two year
old little girl in the house we are looking for any indoor christmas
lights that do not contain lead. Most of the disclaimers on the back
of the lights that we have found, have recommended a thorough
hand-washing after handling, which we find a little scary. We have
searched Google and to no avail have we found a manufacturer that can
guarantee a lead-free christmas light.

"Wires and cords are usually coated with PVC plastic, which is where
the lead is found. Lead is used in PVC for several reasons. For wires
and cords, lead makes the plastic more flexible and reduces the risk
of fire. Lead is also used in many PVC products to stabilize the
color."

http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/education/articles-detail.asp?Main_ID=700

We have learned from some of our searching that products made in the
U.S.A are by law not allowed to contain lead, but products imported to
the U.S do not contain the same restrictions. So we decided to search
for U.S made christmas lights and nothing was found.

One other possibility, are LED christmas lights, which seem to be a
fairly new option in the consumer market. We have not found these for
sale locally so we are unable to know if they are lead-free or not.

So ultimately my question is: Do lead-free christmas lights exist? If
so, where are they available for purchase? And if they do not exist,
what would some lead free options be for lighting our tree this year?

http://ww1.christmasdepot.com/menu.cgi

This site sells made-in-the-U.S.A. products.  By U.S. law, any
Christmas trees or Christmas lights manufactured in the U.S.A. cannot
conatin lead.  Imported trees and lights do not apply.

Personally, this whole thing has alarmed my wife and I.  We want to
have children and this is the LAST thing we need.

Anybody want a free toxic 7' artificial tree circa 1998?

To clarify, my first reply provided a web site that sells
made-in-the-U.S.A. TREES ONLY and not lights.

I'm having trouble finding a place that sells lights with no lead.

If it were me, I wouldn't worry too much. In the U.S. anything with
the tiniest traces of lead has to have a warning label. The lead most
likely comes from the soldering that's done on the lights. Nobody's
gonna die, or even get sick from, such tiny amounts of lead.

Kriswrite

Thanks for the comments guys.

Kriswrite, this is precisely the attitude that is getting us into
trouble. The fact of the matter remains that studies have not been
done on the effects of lead in alot of the products that we use. If a
product is going to tell me to wash my hands after using it because of
lead, I think that should be something to be concerned about don't
you? The bottom line is, manufacturers only care about one thing...
the bottom line. If using lead in their products is going to make them
money then they'll do it. We should have an alternative, because we
just don't know what the effects of this can be on us or our children.

leadfree

I found your question while looking into this very thing The bad news
I have is that upon further searching I believe your search may not
wield an answer. Wal-Mart, which sells lights containing lead made in
the US replied to consumers questions about the new warning label.

http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/walmartlights.html

If the lead is indeed required by UL, then you will not find lights
without Lead in them for sale anywhere in the US. Also keep in mind
that lights this year do not have any more lead in them then the
lights manufactured in years before. California just recently passed
Prop 65 which requires that label. If you find lights without the
warning label, they likely have the same amount of lead, but are
simply not sold in the state of California.

you can find all the articles I gathered my information from with the
following google search

://www.google.com/search?q=Christmas+Lights+Lead+%22Wash+Hands%22&hl=en&lr=


BTW if you are this worried about the lead content of your lights, you
should get any amalgam fillings in your teeth removed as they are 50%
Mercury. Read about the dangers of your amalgam fillings here
http://www.holisticmed.com/dental/amalgam/

Agonizing Fury

Thanks for the post agonizing_fury, you're right about the amalgam
fillings and this precisely why this method of filling cavities is no
longer used. In fact, I recently had some fillings replaced by a safe
method and plan on getting the rest of my amalgam fillings replaced as
well. Have you looked into the new LED lights? haven't had a chance to
check them out yet.

I've got one of these web vendors of the new LED lights asking the
manufacturer about lead content. If he comes through with anything
positive, I will share. My research has come up empty thus far.

Also, I'd like to comment on the safety issue. I am a parent of two
children with mentally related handicaps, both diagnosed with
heavy-metal toxicity. The problem is that their immune systems were
susceptable to damage by these substances and are not able to flush
them out like most people. So, even trace amounts build up to a level
that causes damage. Every month, we are pulling junk like Lead,
Mercury and Tin out of their bodies through a process called
chelation, I encourage any critics of us 'overly-concerned-parents' to
educate yourselves. There are more parents in my situation than you
think, and the number is growing at a rate most people don't like to
think about.

I was astonished to find that lead is found in the solder in
electronics almost everywhere. This is a health hazard of
unprecendented magnitude, yet the medical establishment is almost
completely silent. (Can you say hypocrisy?)

What should we do? First, we need some objective, unbiased government
studies that reach conclusions we can use. Next, we need ongoing
appropriations to remove soldered joints from Christmas tree lights,
microwave ovens, kidney dialysis machines, air bag sensors - the list
goes on and on.

Finally, we need some way of tying minute amounts of lead to spotted
owls or climate change or whatever the current hot issue is. Remember,
we can't trust the public to be properly fearful about this issue
unless we get in there and pitch as much bull as the other side does.

Forward!

Interesting comment about soldering, something that I have not even
considered. The lead in the christmas tree lights I was referring to
was in the insulation. Solder alternatives do exist, take a look at
these google results, pretty interesting.

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=solder+alternative&btnG=Google+Search