New Study Finds Lead, Cadmium, BPA, Phthalates & Toxic Flame Retardants in Gardening Products

(Seattle, WA) - High amounts of lead, phthalates and the toxic chemical BPA were all found in the water of a new hose after sitting outside in the sun for just a few days, according to researchers at the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center, who just completed a large study of toxic chemicals in gardening products.

Nearly 200 hoses, gloves, kneeling pads and tools were tested for lead, cadmium, bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC); phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). Such chemicals have been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and early puberty in laboratory animals, among other serious health problems. Results were released today at www.HealthyStuff.org.

“As a gardener, I’m frustrated that I have likely been using hoses and other garden tools that are exposing me and my family to lead and other toxics,” said Erika Schreder, science director at the Washington Toxics Coalition. “We need laws that prevent known toxics like lead and hormone disrupting chemicals from being used in these kinds of products that many of us use on a regular basis.”

Highlights of Findings

• HealthyStuff.org screened 179 common garden products, including garden hoses (90); garden gloves (53); kneeling pads (13) and garden tools (23). Two-thirds (70.4%) of these products had chemical levels of “high concern.”
• 30% of all products contained over 100 ppm lead in one or more component. 100 ppm is the Consumer Product Safety Commission Standard (CPSC) for lead in children’ products.
• Both garden hoses sampled for phthalates contained the hormone disrupting phthalate DEHP, a chemical banned in children’s products.
• Two water hoses contained the hazardous flame retardant 2,3,4,5-tetrabromo-bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (TBPH).

What Was Found in the Water

• Water sampled from one hose contained 0.280 mg/l (ppm) lead. This is 18 times higher than the federal drinking water standard of 0.015 mg/l.
• BPA levels of 2.3 ppm was found in the hose water. This level is 20 times higher than the 0.100 ppm safe drinking water level used by NSF (need to clarify what NSF is) to verify that consumers are not being exposed to levels of a chemical that exceed regulated levels.
• The phthalate DEHP was found at 0.025 ppm in the hose water. This level is four times higher than federal drinking water standards. EPA and FDA regulate DEHP in water at 0.006 mg/l (ppm).

Tips For Avoiding Chemicals In Garden Products

• Buy a PVC-free hose: Polyurethane or natural rubber hoses are better choices. Visit www.HealthyStuff.orgfor sample products.
• Read the labels: Avoid hoses with a California Prop 65 warning that says “this product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects and other reproductive harm.” Buy hoses that are “drinking water safe” and “lead-free.”
• Let it run: Always let your hose run for a few seconds before using, since the water that’s been sitting in the hose will have the highest levels of chemicals.
• Avoid the sun: Store your hose in the shade. The heat from the sun can increase the leaching of chemicals from the PVC into the water.
• Don't drink water from a hose: Unless you know for sure that your hose is drinking water safe, don’t drink from it. Even low levels of lead may cause health problems.
• Contact your legislators and ask them to strengthen the law to prohibit the use of harmful and unnecessary toxic chemicals in consumer products. Go to www.watoxics.org/take-action to sign the petition to Congress for safer chemicals.

More and more states are passing laws to protect citizens from toxic chemicals in response to the failure of the federal chemical safety system.  In Washington state, the Children’s Safe Products Act requires manufacturers to disclose their use of priority chemicals of high concern in consumer products beginning in August 2012. However, the Washington State Legislature failed to pass a follow-up bill (SB 6120/HB 2266) this year that would have required product makers to determine whether their products could be made with less harmful chemicals.

For more details on what the Ecology Center researchers found, and what you can do to avoid toxic chemicals this gardening season, visit www.HealthyStuff.org.