Testing finds toxic chemicals in 50% of dollar store goods

Welcome to the December! I had the pleasure of traveling to Denver, CO, last week with environmental justice colleagues to examine issues around cumulative impacts. Some of my colleagues in cumulative impacts work are also involved in the Campaign for Healthier Solutions (CHS). My first act after joining Coming Clean was to travel to Alberquerque to address toxic products in dollar stores. This week’s reading is based on CHS research.

Dollar stores are a convenience for many of us and a necessity for those who live in areas without other options. Dollar stores are also highly profitable, yet also contain items with toxic chemicals or chemicals of concern. CHS’ goal is not to eliminate dollar stores. The goal is to get the chains to protect workers and shoppers from toxic products.

Excerpt: “Many families rely on dollar stores for affordable toys and other products for kids,” said José Bravo, national coordinator of the Campaign for Healthier Solutions. “With their high profit margins, dollar stores must do more to ensure that all of these products are safe.”

One of the more surprising products where tests revealed the presence of toxic chemicals was children’s headphones.

“Squishy unicorn headphones” sold at Five Below contained ortho-phthalate plasticizer, while Disney Princess kid-safe wireless headphones from the same retailer contained flame retardant in earphone foam. Kids’ headphones sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar contained solder with 22,000 parts per million of lead, and had PVC cable insulation and coated fabrics that contained plasticizers. Earbuds sold by 99 Cents Only Stores also contained lead in solder and ortho-phthalate plasticizers.

Citation: Wittenberg, A. (2022, April 15). Testing finds toxic chemicals in 50% of dollar store goods. E&E News. https://www.eenews.net/articles/testing-finds-toxic-chemicals-in-50-of-dollar-store-goods/