Report: Experts Warn of High Levels of Lead by Some Off-Price Retailers

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…