Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, plastic is being used more and more often in various product formulations. While useful in many applications, PVC degrades and loses material strength when it is exposed to sunlight or heat. To remedy this problem, manufacturers add "stabilizers" to the chemical compound. For years, the most widely-used stabilizer was lead, although alternative, non-toxic materials can be used for this purpose, including calcium, and tin.

Unfortunately, lead doesn’t mix well in the PVC - it clumps and migrates to the material’s surface. This occurs even more rapidly when the product is exposed to heat or direct sunlight. Thus, when lead is used, accumulates on the product’s surface and is transferred to hands and mouth of the user. This source of lead contamination is particularly dangerous because no one expects lead to be present on the surface of these PVC products, and because many of the products are used by pregnant women, babies, and young children, who are particularly susceptible to lead’s toxic effects.

EcoRights has tested thousands of PVC products, from Christmas tree lights, to baby bibs, to headphone cords. A decade ago, nearly all products on the shelves were leaded, mostly imported from China, where lax occupational safety standards allow the liberal use of such toxic compounds. However, our research resulted in lawsuits that have driven the plastics industry to reformulate its products. We now find many fewer leaded PVC products. Still, if you see a lead hazard warning on your PVC product, or if you’re not sure whether or not it contains lead, washing your hands thoroughly with soap after handling the product will protect you and your family from lead exposures.