CPSC Votes to Begin Rulemaking to Ban Candles With Lead Wicks
Major Retailers Agree to Not Sell Lead Wick Candles
Press Release # 01-083
Transcript
There is no audio for this video clip. The picture sequence is as follows:
- Screen reading: "CPSC lab testing of candle wicks."
- Close up of candle wicks lit in CPSC laboratory.
- View of CPSC lab technician recording laboratory data and running tests.
- Close up of lead being pulled from the candle wick.
- Screen reading: "CPSC lab testing of candle wicks."
- Screen reading: "General candle b-roll."
- View of several sizes and types of candles burning.
- View of candle burning on a table in the kitchen. A woman feeds her infant while sitting in a chair at the table.
- View of a child playing in a living room with candles burning on the fireplace mantel in the background.
- Screen reading: "It is not possible for consumers to tell which candles have lead-core wicks. CPSC finds that metal wicks, some of which contain lead, were used in container, pillar, votive, and tea light candles."
- Screen reading : "To check a candle in your home, look at the top of the wick. If there is metal, you will see it in the center of the wick. If you have young children, do not burn candles with metal wicks or throw them away."
- Close up of candles whose wicks have been lit.
- Woman blowing out candles in a room where a child is playing.
- Screen reading : "Tapers and damper candles use cotton wicks that do not contain lead."
- View of tall taper candles on a dining room table lit.
- Close up view of taper candles in a variety of colors.
- Screen reading: "The ban of lead-core candle wicks would not go into effect until the end of the year. But many retailers currently are not selling candles with lead wicks. They include:
- Pier 1
- Gap
- Wal-Mart
- Michaels Stores
- Winn-Dixie
- Frank's Nursery & Crafts
- Ahold/USA, parent of Stop & Shop, Giant, Tops and Peapod
- Blyth, parent of PartyLite
- Bullfrog Light Company
- Atlanta Candle Factory
- Mom's Kitchen Candles
- CPSC encourages other retailers to take steps and advise consumers of their efforts to keep candles with lead wicks off store shelves. Consumers should ask retailers not on the list whether candles in their stores are lead free.
- Lead poisoning can cause behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation. The primary source of lead poisoning in the United States is lead from paint in old homes."
- End