Lead: The Hidden Danger in Holiday Lights

The other day, my husband announced that he'd like to decorate the house with holiday lights. I was excited at the prospect, but had no idea where our outside lights were. We've moved them around so many places and put them in and out of storage, we figured it would just be easier to buy new lights. So off we trucked to the Home Depot to stock up on lights, a ladder and clips. So, imagine to my chagrin, when I opened the lights and saw the following warning: "Prop 65 Warning: Handling coated electrical wires of this product may expose you to lead, a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after installation of this product." Lead? In my holiday lights? I was floored.

As many know, lead is one of the leading causes of birth and neurological defects in young children, because they are especially susceptible to it. Exposure can not only lead to birth defects and seizures, but in severe cases, death. The "Prop 65 Warning" stems from a law that California passed requiring that above note to be put on the packaging of any product. No other state requires it (another surprise). But rather than create two packages, most manufacturers leave that notice on there .