California Considers Banning Lead Fishing Weights to Reduce Environmental Hazards

Last month, the Los Angeles Times published an article discussing Governor Jerry Brown’s decision to sign off on a three-year Department of Toxic Substances Control study.  The agency will look into the environmental impact of lead fishing weights and if they should be banned.  The project is part of California’s Green Chemistry Initiative to study the safety of “priority products.”

Lead and various lead compounds are listed on the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s (OEHHA) list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity for purposes of Proposition 65.

Exposure to lead is a potential hazard to wildlife that may ingest lead fishing weights along with people who handle the weights and may inadvertently get lead into their bodies through hand to mouth actions.  This could be especially true for young children who tend to put things in their mouth.

“Lead poisoning is entirely preventable for both people and wildlife,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility.  “A more prevalent issue with regards to childhood lead poisoning exposure risks is lead in older homes that could be exposing children to the dangerous heavy metal on a daily basis.  If a home was built before 1978, it may contain lead-based paint.  The deterioration of this paint or when it is disturbed often causes problems.  At LA Testing, we offer comprehensive lead testing services to identify hazards in the environment, people’s homes and in products that may have unsafe levels of the metal.”

To learn more about lead or other environmental and indoor air quality (IAQ) testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.

About LA Testing
LA Testing, is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.

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