A Hidden Christmas Danger
It's hard enough trying to read all the directions for the
various gifts one receives for Christmas, but did you read the
instructions BEFORE the holidays?
I bought new lights for my tree this year. It is always a good
idea to keep your lights in good working order. The last thing I
would want would be a fire in my home. I'm a conscientious
homeowner and also try not to have too many extension cords, or
unattended candles.
This year, I was surprised to find interesting instructions on
the brand new package of lights I bought this year. The warning
said the wiring on my lights contained lead and to wash my hands
after handling.
Lead, when ingested, can cause various ailments. In adults,
when larger amounts are ingested, it can increase blood pressure
and cause fertility problems, nerve disorders, muscle and joint
pain, irritability, and memory or concentration problems. In
young children, very low levels of exposure can result in
reduced IQ, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders,
behavioral problems, stunted growth, impaired hearing, and
kidney damage.
Lead is especially dangerous to pregnant women. Lead can easily
be transferred to the fetus, as lead crosses the placenta. In
fact, pregnancy itself can cause lead to be released from the
bone, where lead is stored--often for decades--after it first
enters the blood stream. (The same process can occur with the
onset of menopause.) Once the lead is released from the mother's
bones, it re-enters the blood stream and can end up in the
fetus. In other words, if a woman had been exposed to enough
lead as a child for some of the lead to be stored in her bones,
the mere fact of pregnancy can trigger the release of that lead
and can cause the fetus to be exposed. In such cases, the baby
is born with an elevated blood lead level.
Granted, the amount of lead that could possibly be absorbed from
your Christmas lights is minimal. But read the warning label on
your boxes and wash your hands after decorating the tree. Keep
your hands from your mouth and perhaps refrain from allowing
children to touch the wires. Consider keeping the tree in a room
where children don't normally play, or stringing the lights
higher than they can reach.
And be careful getting on the bike that had all the "extra" nuts
and bolts after assembly.