Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Parents Warned: Bounce Houses Pose Lead Hazard to Children

NATIONAL - An investigation by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) has prompted lawsuits to be filed today by CEH and the California Attorney General against leading makers, distributors and suppliers of bounce houses (also called jump houses or inflatable jumpers). CEH testing found one bounce house contained more than 70 times the federal limit for lead in children’s products under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Independent testing commissioned by CEH also showed that lead from bounce houses can expose children to the toxic chemical at levels that violate California law. 

“Parents expect that their children might be a little dizzy after a jumping session, but most parents would never suspect that a bounce house could pose a hidden health threat,” said Michael Green, Executive Director of CEH. “We look forward to working with the Attorney General to eliminate these unnecessary lead exposures to children.”

The companies to be sued today supply bounce houses to many retail bounce house party outlets as well as to independent companies that rent and deliver bounce houses to individuals, festivals and events.

Bounce houses are often made with vinyl (polyvinyl chloride, or PVC), a “poison plastic” that is often made with lead, a neurotoxin that can cause learning disorders, brain and nerve damage, hearing problems, stunted growth, and digestive problems. Scientists are increasingly convinced that there is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for young children.

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