Probe Sought over Lead in Reusable Grocery Bags
They are supposed to be good for the environment, saving tons of plastic from ending up in landfills, but reusable grocery bags may be bad for your health.
Following a Tampa Tribune report showing some reusable grocery bags containing dangerous levels of lead in their painted designs, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York is seeking a federal investigation of lead content in the colorful canvas bags, the Associated Press reports.
The Democrat said many of the reusable grocery bags sold nationwide are manufactured in China.
While studies show the bags contain toxic levels of lead--which the Food and Drug Administration says is bad for people at any level--the paint on the bags does not come off easily, the Tribune reports. However, over time, the bags can wear down and the paint can flake off into food and into landfills, creating an environmental hazard.
Schumer says he's contacting the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In recent weeks, Sen. Schumer has publicly positioned himself as a champion for consumer safety. Just last week, Sen. Schumer called for a ban of "Four Loko," an alcohol and caffeine drink that has resulted in hospitalizations for college kids across the country.
CBS/AP Following a Tampa Tribune report showing some reusable grocery bags containing dangerous levels of lead in their painted designs, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York is seeking a federal investigation of lead content in the colorful canvas bags, the Associated Press reports.
The Democrat said many of the reusable grocery bags sold nationwide are manufactured in China.
While studies show the bags contain toxic levels of lead--which the Food and Drug Administration says is bad for people at any level--the paint on the bags does not come off easily, the Tribune reports. However, over time, the bags can wear down and the paint can flake off into food and into landfills, creating an environmental hazard.
Schumer says he's contacting the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
In recent weeks, Sen. Schumer has publicly positioned himself as a champion for consumer safety. Just last week, Sen. Schumer called for a ban of "Four Loko," an alcohol and caffeine drink that has resulted in hospitalizations for college kids across the country.
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Oh for crist sake, the MINUTE little designs are not going to flake into your freaking food! and SO WHAT if some winds up in the damn landfill???
WHere do these idiots think lead COMES from, mars?? it comes right out of the ground, lead is a naturally occurring element found all over the planet, damn, the hysteria around this is insane.
Yeah, EATING chunks of lead is bad for you, so is eating a double big whopper with fries 3 times a week, back before the 70s all paints had loads of lead, gas was leaded, it was used in plumbing and all kinds of stuff, people were exposed all the time, toys even had lead paint and lead parts, but gee, now it's like you just look at a PHOTO of lead and the mass hysteria reaction of panic to it you'd think the stuff was radioactive!
Just wait till the CF bulbs start hitting the garbage cans broken, in landfills and broken by accident in the room and watch the mass hysteria over the MERCURY!
If company invent paper sponge and able to melt in the water, would be fantastic.
Trees' leaves take CO2 and produce O2, you know that.
Now we have some option to have solar energy and some people cut down trees that is WRONG!!
If less trees on the earth, who produce O2? We are going to be extinct!!
Many people might not believe what Stanley A Hulham writes about but not only him but also me and some people have same ideas to clean up the air.
Rule No.1 Don't cut trees but protect and increase trees which have leaves.
But choose trees, some are not fit your yards or environment case fire or any other situation.
Rule No.2 Big companies should not pretend they can not decrease toxic gasses etc.
I don't understand why USA says "CO2 Cap" yes need balance of CO2, however trees need CO2 to
produce O2. human need O2 or die ! Simple.
Rule No3. However , solar panels are usable but not perfect goods.
We can combine solar energy goods with other energy but not necessary to cut down trees.
The reason already mentioned that. We need o2 and trees produce co2.
Trees are CO2 filters to produce O2.
So, your neighbor need sun right and cut down tree in your yard and makes a law suit is nonsense . You can fight back We need fresh air to take breath every day.
If you really want to have all solar power life, you should move to desert area.
If we cut down our trees surroundings , all areas are going to be desert
So you already understand what this mean, we all die.
We should produce trees and flowers which have leaves.
And factories should go green,
Meanwhile we do this, also technology to produce O2, Yes, would be helpful in future.
Please keep remind the base of knowledge , trees are our life savers and partners.
Plastic bags, should be changed to the eco friendly, which means, should not be plastic.
Papers , yes.
simple.
Plastic bags should be turn to the paper like substance after a month.
This is magic but it is necessary to be.
Because plastic stack every where , even inside of fish body and fish dead.
Plastic should not be used like now, it flow over every where and dangerous.
If this were the first time we got contaminated stuff from China it would be one thing---hey government, how about moving production back here? If not, you better start beefing up the security that lets this stuff in here!