Recent investigations have uncovered alarming lead levels in fashion accessories sold at off-price retailers, including Ross and Burlington. The Center for Environmental Health (CEH), a nonprofit watchdog group, has released a 13-year 'Toxic Fashion' report that exposes a continuing issue of toxic substances in products available at Ross and Burlington stores.
Since 2009, the CEH has conducted repeated tests and found dangerously high concentrations of lead in various fashion items made from leather and imitation leather, including purses, wallets, footwear, and belts sold by these discount retail chains. In the year 2022, the CEH's testing revealed that over a quarter of the fashion accessories purchased from Ross and Burlington contained lead levels surpassing the benchmark of 0.03%, with some items registering a concerning 1.7% lead content.
The persistent issue of toxic fashion accessories at low-cost retailers has been highlighted by studies revealing that these retailers have repeatedly sold products containing elevated levels of lead. Over the last decade, CEH has notified retailers Burlington, Marshalls, Nordstrom Rack, Ross, and TJ Maxx nearly 500 times that they were selling specific fashion accessories containing elevated levels of lead. Ross and Burlington accounted for over 300 of those notices.
"No amount of lead is safe," said Dr. Vin Gupta. "Lead is a carcinogen and reproductive toxicant that can cause permanent and irreversible health effects and is especially harmful to children. Lead found in fashion accessories can come off onto our hands and then travel into our body when we touch our mouths."
In adults, lead poisoning can result in nerve damage, increased blood pressure, hearing and vision impairment, and reproductive problems such as decreased sperm count. Acute exposure to high levels of lead can lead to severe consequences, including convulsions, coma, and even death, while chronic exposure may cause anemia, peripheral neuropathy, kidney fibrosis, and abdominal cramping.
The report found that Ross and Burlington continue to sell lead-containing footwear, handbags, wallets and belts. Over 28% of the fashion accessories CEH purchased from Ross and 25% purchased from Burlington in 2022 contained elevated lead levels above 300 parts per million. Ross and Burlington stores cater to lower-income consumers. Many of their California storefronts are in communities already facing environmental, health, and other socioeconomic pressures.
"Off-price retailers like Ross and Burlington are significant players in the fast fashion market," said Kizzy Charles-Guzman, CEO of CEH. "The continued practice of selling fashion accessories containing toxic chemicals to lower-income shoppers is unconscionable. Affordability should not come at the cost of our health."
Children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure, which can severely damage their brain and central nervous system, potentially resulting in coma, convulsions, or death. Survivors of severe lead poisoning may be left with permanent intellectual disability and behavioral disorders.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has set strict standards for lead content in consumer products, especially those intended for children. For instance, the allowable lead in most paints has been reduced to 0.009% since 2009, and children's products must not contain more than 100 parts per million (ppm) of total lead content in accessible parts.
Safety measures to mitigate the risks associated with lead exposure include thoroughly washing and cleaning surfaces, disposing of contaminated waste safely, and keeping children and pregnant women away from work areas where lead is present. Wearing disposable coveralls and gloves is also recommended when there is potential for lead dust contamination. Last but not least, avoid off-price retailers known to sell clothing and accessories with high amounts of lead.
