Environmental Toxins: Are Children's Lunchboxes Toxic?

According to Lancaster Online, in August 2005 a California-based environmental group found high levels of lead in vinyl-lined lunch boxes. The Consumer Products Safety Commision, however, believes differently. “In most cases, children would have to rub their lunch box and then lick their hands more than 600 times every day, for about 15-30 days, in order for the lunch box to present a health hazard,” the CSPC reported.

The majority of PVC lined lunch boxes do not contain lead. Some retailers, however, are erring on the side of caution: WalMart has pulled some lunch boxes from its shelves and many lunch box companies are advertising themselves as being lead free. Children are especially susceptible to lead exposure; consequently, less effort is being expended researching lead content in adult lunch boxes.