It's irrelevant that retailers "haven't heard of any reports of any buyers suffering health problems" from lead exposure, because the most serious problems, neurological damage including dementia, cognitive decline, and chronic depression and volatility among others, may not be manifest until years after significant exposure to lead. The only really relevant piece of information is the level of available lead in the items. If it's there in amounts declared to be hazardous, the items should be removed. Dr. John

Thanks for info - yes it will factor

When will we learn that the government has no interest in protecting us. They are more interested in maintaining good relations with China and allow anything that comes in from China without a thought for our safety and welfare. And everything we buy...look at it...it's from China.What a disgrace. At one time in history everyone wanted to come to America. I'm not so convinced at this point in time that it is the promised land...the land of opportunity.

The question is how much lead could a wearer actually absorb?? It seems like "lead exposure" has become the fashionable health panic of the day. Of course it can be potentialy serious. On the other hand even radioactive materials have "safe levels." In a few years nobody will be thinking about lead anymore.

With all the crap we import from China, is that supposed to be a surprise? Big news? Something unexpected? I go out of my way not to buy stuff made in China and it's getting more and more difficult.

Heavy metals can certainly do harm, and I will take heed about the lead. However, most people don't think twice about having mercury injected into them via a vaccine. It's a neurotoxin, people, and it's called thimerosal Think. Ask questions. In fact, question everything these days.

Bruce, lead has been an issue since the dawn of civilization. The last time "no one cared anymore" was after the fall of the Roman Empire, as it is one of the leading theories as to the fall. But Jan is right: the government doesn't care one lick, and to be honest, they're not really supposed to. We're supposed to care for ourselves. Why let someone else make decisions for you about your health? What we really need is a take-home lead testing kit.

When one questions the quantity of lead, I/m not so sure that that particular point about one item. You take all of the items and place them in the environment....it's not only handbags, it's toys, etc..., and expose people to it in the environment and all that they come in contact with, over time it has to signicantly impact us....and we are trying to starve off dimentia and alsheimers, perhaps with all this lead, from China, maybe we are fighting a losing battle.

I have worked in the handbag industry for over 25 years. First of all, the levels of lead are most definately not at a level to cause harm to an adult with normal use. Secondly, people should use common sense and not give handbags, purses, wallets, etc. manufactured for adults to children to assume them, pacify them, etc. This seems to be to me the only method by which a child could come to some harm through repeated ingestion or "sucking" on these products. The entire industry - China manufacturers included have all been actively pursuing best practices for several years now to get the lead ( and other harmful chemicals) out. As an aside, it really burns me up when some of you go on about "chinese made" products and how inferior they are etc, etc....you should know that many many AMERICAN's are involved with the design, planning, purchasing, testing, quality control, etc...we have had a mutually beneficial relationship with chinese manufacturers for years, ever since American workers decided they would rather sling burgers for a living and factory owners had trouble competing for workers. Do you think the chinese just fill containers full of product and force them on the american consumer, be real. Finally, the method by which this non-governmental agency CEH goes around detecting lead is not a completely acceptable method for determining lead levels. They should be forced to purchase several of each product they want to test, submit to an independent lab and await 2 or more weeks to receive the results via EPA3051, which is the method by which manufacturers determine lead content and which most major retailers require. Finally, the CEH deals with PROP 65 which is a labeling law, nothing related to CPSC edict whihc is to protect chilren by monitoring children's products. This entire issue is just another hyped-up media scare tactic. I quote a "recognized authority on chemical testing" regarding the results from a "Lead detection Gun"

In short he does not believe that the results from this device are accurate on 2 accounts.
A) The device measures does not differentiate between coating and substrate.
B) The technique used may impact the reading.

He also has a concern about the knowledge of persons using such devices and their ability to interpret any result , which is probably valid.
Thanks for your time.

If there is a problem with these faux-leather handbags, is there also a problem with these brands of shoes? When are companies going to realize that we consumers deserve to be halthy... regardelss of their bottom line??? I find this disgusting and despicable.

Nobody has said anything about what we do if we have a purse from one of the listed companies ?? Do we take them somewhere to be tested, return them to the store where purchased or WHAT ???!!!

More chinese junk , when will we ever learn ??