Lead in Cables and Cords

[William Cannon]

So I was using an extension cord the other day, and it had a warning that the cord has lead in it and to wash my hands after use. So I check all of my other extension cords and they all say the same. WTF? Should I be concerned, especially since I have 2 little ones at home?

 

[RayDog]

If they are not very old, say less than 3 years, it is probably just lead solder connecting the wire to the plug, and I wouldn't worry about it. It is tagged that way so it is hopefully disposed of properly.

Some plastic products, particularly watch those from China, may use lead stearate or cadmium stearate as a filler. That would not be normal for wiring in my experience, but common in other items such as window blinds. When they age and the surface starts to oxidize, the lead flakes off. That is a problem to watch out for.

 

[William Cannon]

but why does it tell you to wash your hands after handling it?

 

[jmatt]

Because they have paranoid lawyers?

 

[Stuck_At_Work]

Lead is used as a stabalizing agent for the PVC used in the cable coating. If the cable has a greater than 300 ppm concentration of lead, California requires that the cable be labeled as such. The law has been around for a long time, but enforcement has been stepped up recently - so you'll notice more cables with that warning from now on.

I happen to work on these type of issues for my employer (a tech company).

 

[William Cannon]

So is 300ppm an issue?

 

[Stuck_At_Work]

I'm not an expert on the toxicological impacts, but I'd be willing to bet that breathing the air outside your house has a larger impact to human health than picking up the cable.