Lead Found in Many Thrift Shop Items

This article on the Consumer Affairs website says that if you think getting a better deal shopping a second-hand stores think again. A recent study suggests that many items you’d find in a thrift shop could be hiding dangerous chemicals including lead.

Sarah Huffman, a writer for Consumer Affairs, states, “Researchers purchased a collection of used items from second-hand stores, junk shops and antiques stores in Virginia, New York and Oregon and found many of them contained surface lead concentrations more than 700 times higher than the federal limit.”

While you may be getting a deal on the price, it is far from a bargain as many of the trinkets, dishware, toys, jewelry, and antiques could expose you to an unhealthy amount of lead.