Lethal lead levels found in Congressional gift shop souvenirs
RAW STORY
Published:
Tuesday December 12, 2006
 A report released today by Democratic staffers in Congress found that official Capitol Hill gift shops were selling items containing dangerous levels of lead, according to news stories in Roll Call and The Hill.
Staff from the offices of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) jointly published the report yesterday. Out of 13 items tested, 7 contained dangerous levels of lead, with some items amounting to "lethal levels." The items have been pulled from the four Congressional gift shops where they were for sale.
According to the report from The Hill's Kelly McCormack, the following items had dangerous levels of lead: bracelets and eagle pendants, a Capitol dome pin, and a Capitol charm and souvenir spoon. In all, 13 items were tested. One $4.95 silver-plated bracelet contained 38 percent lead, which is a potentially lethal dosage.
Roll Call's report quoted Senator Obama as stating "As a parent of two young children, it's frightening to think that a toy or memento like the ones sold in the Capitol gift shops could unknowingly expose my daughters to toxic lead."
The Roll Call report can be accessed at its website by subscribers. The Hill's report is accessible at this link.
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