how would lead in a snap/zipper affect a child?

[Former_Member]

I was just wondering about this, for general info. If you have a snap/zipper whatever that has lead in it, then how is it dangerous? Because the constant skin contact causes lead to get into the body or the possiblity of swallowing one of the parts? This is assuming that it's not a lead paint covering, but actual metal that has lead in it.

anyone know?

[Former_Member]

Babies, and even my 5 year old, chew on everything!

[Former_Member]

right, i get that and am not trying argue the safety issue...just trying to get info on how the poisoning actually occurs.

So, if your child chews on a zipper that has lead in the make up of the metal (and is not painted with a lead paint), can they still get lead poisoning if they don't swallow any of the metal? does the lead somehow leech out of the metal?

just wondering how it happens. I get it with paints, just not sure of the mechanics with metals.

[inspiringcolor]

Yes -- lead leaches out of the metal. Romans were poisoned because they drank wine in lead goblets ... they certainly didn't ingest the goblet. I'm not sure how long it takes though and/or if the elements of wine trigger it. I do know that a lot of painted glassware used to be with lead paint and that was banned because it leached.

this is a completely unscientific response, but maybe it helps.

[VivaLeChat]

Lead leaches out of the metal. Even as an adult, I still sometimes play with my jacket zippers and put them in my mouth...maybe I should be more careful. ;)

[Former_Member]

Like inspiringcolor says. I even look out for zippers and buttons that are painted, supposedly encasing the metal, but the paint chips off in the dryer. Sure enough, goes in the mouth, and I'm worrying about the exposed metal leaching lead. Not to mention popping off and being swallowed!

[Former_Member]

hmmm....interesting. so, does it leach out just from skin contact I wonder, or only when being sucked on? like, if you had lead in your earings or in a ring...over time it could get in your system?

[Former_Member]

oh and thanks for all the input!

[Former_Member]

Lead can be absorbed through skin contact, though it is incredibly slower than ingestion or inhalation. There is a link to the CDC's report on the 3 methods that lead invades the body and it effects caused by the different types of contact somewhere in the earlier threads on the CPSIA.
Unforunately the CPSC has not considered a logical risk assessment of which method could cause harm through normal use. Rather their view is any lead, or phthalates for that matter, that anyone is adding to the enviroment of a child to be equal to the child actually swallowing the offending item.
They feel that a blanket ban of consumer goods targeted towards children, guilty until provoven innocent approach, will be better than rooting out the actual cause & remediation of the most common offenders. Simple but expensive testing can tell any parent if their homes and property are more of a risk than anything they may bring in from shopping.

[RuthTillmanDesigns]

Ok...the fact is most if not all zippers are coated with paint. The paint may have lead in it and the metal underneath may have metal. It is rare that zippers have lead in it as it is a very soft metal that does not hold up to a use of a zipper.

Lead must be swallowed to really affect the child. This is the concern. It does not take much to have their lead levels show. In an old house, which I have experience, the lead paint does not leach into your skin when you touch the wood trim. What happens is as the house ages children either chew directly on the woodwork or the paint starts to flake. The flakes hit the floor and the child crawels on the floor. The child puts his hands in his mouth and poof lead poisening.

You can get higher lead lead levels and possibly even lead poisening if you use leaded crystal every day. It does leach into the water but it is very unlikly that lead leaches into your skin on contact with a paint that has lead in it.

[Former_Member]

It is NOT true that lead must be swallowed to affect a child. It can be leached through the skin, and can also be inhaled.

One thing no one has pointed out is that lead accumulates in the human body. This means that a teensy bit one time may not do any harm, but since lead does not leave one's system, a teensy bit a second (third, fourth, etc.) time adds up to a larger amount of lead. There is no known "safe" amount, either.

[RuthTillmanDesigns]

I'm not saying that it must be swallowed. I am saying the likelyhood of lead poisening happening from leaching through the skin or inhalation is very low.

It does leave the system. It just takes a while to leave and if there is countinued exposure then the higher the levels.

Trust me my child had lead poisening. I went through this with the doctors and other county officials.

[Former_Member]

From http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs13.html#bookmark04

"Shortly after lead gets into your body, it travels in the blood to the "soft tissues" and organs (such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, brain, spleen, muscles, and heart). After several weeks, most of the lead moves into your bones and teeth. In adults, about 94% of the total amount of lead in the body is contained in the bones and teeth. About 73% of the lead in children’s bodies is stored in their bones. Some of the lead can stay in your bones for decades; however, some lead can leave your bones and reenter your blood and organs under certain circumstances (e.g., during pregnancy and periods of breast feeding, after a bone is broken, and during advancing age).

Your body does not change lead into any other form. Once it is taken in and distributed to your organs, the lead that is not stored in your bones leaves your body in your urine or your feces. About 99% of the amount of lead taken into the body of an adult will leave in the waste within a couple of weeks, but only about 32% of the lead taken into the body of a child will leave in the waste. Under conditions of continued exposure, not all of the lead that enters the body will be eliminated, and this may result in accumulation of lead in body tissues, especially bone."

[Former_Member]

Lead CAN leave the system. Damage just occurs quicker than the lead leaves, though.

Hence the reason lead ingestion/inhalation/etc. requires treatment ASAP.

[RuthTillmanDesigns]

I really don't want to go back and forth on this. We all are exposed to elements that are in our bodies naturally and we gather them through the years. Lead in the bones are really not the issue when it comes to children. High long lead exposure in children results in severe brain damage and that is the biggest issue at hand.

A small zipper or snap on a childs clothing should be looked at and made sure that it does not contain lead but the fact is that is highly unlikely that enough lead will be gained in the system through the child touching the zipper.

People are freaked out about lead because of all the freak out media out there. It really is something we should be aware of and try to control to the best of our abilities but to go crazy over somebody touching a zipper and thinking they are going to easily be affectd by it is really unrealistic thinking. I try to put my feet on the ground and take stuff like this with a grain of salt. Especially going through lead exposure with my child when he was 3 and have the county come out and help figure out what to do. They even gave us techniques to help rid it from his system such as drinking milk.

In my opinion the type of stuff you just posted makes some people obessesive about things and is really uncessesary. It is more likely you will get skin cancer from the harmful rays of the sun than lead poisening.

[Former_Member]

Wow, you seem pretty sensitive to my presentation of facts. Hopefully anyone interested in learning about lead (rather than hearing emotional opinions) can glean some knowledge from scientifically based information such as that found on the CDC website.

Back to the subject at hand; while lead poisoning is unlikely unless the child eats zippers for breakfast, why don't you just make sure to use zippers without lead? Also note that plastic can contain lead, too, so check with your supplier to see if the zippers are lead-free.

[RuthTillmanDesigns]

In your opinion I am being sensitive. In my opinion I think you are going beyond what is needed. Over kill!

Scientific facts are great and everything but you stated it yourself just as I did in my first post that the child really needs to ingest the lead from a zipper to show significant facts. I never said that it can't be drawn through the skin. I quote "Lead must be swallowed to really affect the child. This is the concern." That is exactly what you just ended your last post with but in different words.

[Former_Member]

In my opinion, your opinion about my opinion of your opinion...no wait, grade school was such a long time ago. An argument requires more than one participant; you are on your own.


thewonderlandstudio: if you have any more lead-related questions, convo me. As the wife of a chemist, I would be happy to share facts with you on this topic.

[germandolls]

Oh dear. Hope you all can make peace. Must find another thread...