Gov. Hochul signs legislation mandating warnings on lead-loaded Christmas decorations
Yule soon know if your new holiday light set is laced with lead.
Gov. Hochul on Tuesday signed into law a measure mandating that warnings be placed on Christmas decorations carrying lead-packed electrical cord covers, her office said.
The public health law, which passed the state Senate and Assembly in May, covers seasonal products like light strings and light-up fake Christmas trees sold across the state.
Potentially poisonous quantities of lead in some light sets have long been viewed as a cause for concern.
The law requires that holiday cord casing with lead levels greater than 100 parts per million be accompanied with a notice saying: “Warning: Handling the coated electrical wire of this product may expose you to lead. Wash hands thoroughly after use.”
Lead exposure is linked to neurological damage and can be particularly dangerous for children. Even small amounts of the element can influence the attention spans and academic performance of kids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Decorating for the holidays should never put your family’s health at risk, but many decorative lighting products contain lead in quantities that are harmful to both children and adults,” state Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick (D-Rockland), who sponsored the legislation, said in a statement.
Federal laws bar the sale of lead paint, and the state imposes limits on lead in furnishings and toys, according to the governor’s office, but some holiday wares appeared to have slipped through the cracks.
Hochul suggested she hopes the measure will help New Yorkers deck their halls with lead-free trimmings.
“As we decorate our homes for the holidays, New Yorkers shouldn’t have to worry about accidentally exposing children and loved ones to lead poisoning,” the governor said in a statement. “This legislation is a simple, common-sense way to keep New Yorkers safe as we participate in beloved holiday traditions. Let’s have a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.”
