Disneyland Attractions Contain High Levels Of Lead, Environmental Group Alleges

What are the scariest attractions at Disneyland? It may not be the roller-coasters, if an environmental group's accusations are well-founded.

The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation filed an injunction last week that would require the Anaheim, Calfornia park to post warning signs or cover surfaces found to contain lead. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mateel had filed a lawsuit in Orange County court in April, alleging "excessive levels of lead in such commonly touched objects as the Sword in the Stone attraction," along with brass door knobs at Minnie's House, stained-glass windows in a door at the entrance to a beauty salon in Cinderella's Castle" and several other locations.

Last year, Mateel sent individuals to conduct "wipe testing" of various surfaces at Disneyland. They found that a number of surfaces contained many more times the amount of lead than that which requires a posted sign. According to the International Business Times, signs are required when "average exposure exceeds 0.5 micrograms per day."

Disney has claimed that they have posted warning signs and are not violating California law. A Disney spokeswoman told the Los Angeles Times, "We have not seen the papers that we are told are being filed, so we cannot comment specifically. However, we believe that Disneyland Resort is in full compliance with the signage requirements."

The research director at the Center For Environmental Health said in a press release, "It's disappointing that a $38 billion company like Disney can’t be bothered to clean up their parks so they're safe for children. We’re telling our supporters to send a message to Disney today: there is no place for lead poisoning at the world's happiest place."

Lead is on the list of chemicals covered by California's 1986 Proposition 65 that requires the labeling of products or places that contain "chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm."

According to health experts, lead poisoning occurs when individuals' blood contains 10 micrograms per deciliter. This week is the CDC's National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week.

The CDC reported this summer that lead poisoning among American adults has dropped by over 50 percent in the past 15 years.

Read The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation's "Danger at Disneyland: Lead Hazards At The Happiest Place On Earth" here.

Comments

[Robert Grif]

02:26 AM on 10/25/2011

Is the Weiner in this story somewhere?

[pslcitizen]

01:23 AM on 10/25/2011

In case you haven't heard...eating paint chips is harmful..

[madison1234]

11:38 PM on 10/24/2011

To the ones that's taking this as fact! This is a certain group that did the testing. It reminds me of court cases where one expert says one thing and then the other expert says just the opposite. People have their own agenda's and sometimes it not to protect the children. I remember riding my bike as a kid, feeling the wind going through my hair and having the freedom of movement to just do about everything with my bike. Now, I watch my grandbaby, looking like she's dressed for war, just to ride her bike. I know, I know, it's for safety!

[mbrngt]

11:26 PM on 10/24/2011

OK there Huffington post what gives ?? This was supposed to be a story about Weiner and money still being drawn from his campaign funds not about Disneylands lame overpriced rides containing lead. If you are going to advertise stories then by all means post the ones you list not with broken links or detoured websites ! There have been several of your STORIES that have been messed up one I wanted to read was about how sex-ed in a school is going to teach about bestiality which I thought was sick to begin with but wanted to read it to see for myself if it was true, after 20 times of refreshing and reloading the link it still came up with the same thing a blank page. I do not know if you know but there are a number of other news services out there that actually pride themselves on being accurate journalists and not like how what yours seems as at best a high school attempt to cover the news I have also noticed numerous words and phrases misspelled. If you need a proofreader then I am your man I am unemployed and am smart enough to use SPELLCHECK. Please begin to fix these problems or maybe you might go the route of the news papers did where no one is reading them much anymore

[rjackson2a]

09:32 PM on 10/24/2011

Ok liberals. Enough. Now you have people clicking on fake headlines so people are directed to your rants.

[II Quorum II]

12:47 AM on 10/25/2011

hahaha. Well, would either of us come here of our own accord if they put up the real
(non)headline?

[aphidavis]

09:05 PM on 10/24/2011

Where is the weiner?

[LeeCalif]

07:00 PM on 10/24/2011

INEXCUSABLE !

[cori64]

06:35 PM on 10/24/2011

Lead is a component in paint that gives it it's vibrant color and durability, especially in enamels. The problem with dry lead paint is that it tastes "sweet" to a child if he/she eats it. We have all seen children gnawing on teething rings and most anything they can fit into their mouths. Add the 2 together and it is a recipe for disaster. The equilivant of 3 grains of salt is all your child needs to ingest of a lead based paint in order to cause irrepairable brain damage. One would think that a child dependent industry like the Disney Corporation would not take needless risks with our children's lives. (www.epa.gov/lead)

[sloreader]

06:30 PM on 10/24/2011

Now that you've won the Super Bowl what are you going to do? "I'm going to Disneylead!"

[heidkist]

06:27 PM on 10/24/2011

Where is the article about Weiner??

[Moongoddess3]

08:05 PM on 10/24/2011

Wondering that too...

[II Quorum II]

12:48 AM on 10/25/2011

Another Huff n Puffer ate some lead paint, no doubt

[Mark Helfgott]

06:19 PM on 10/24/2011

Who let the lead out? That's not funny.

[Bogym]

04:06 PM on 10/24/2011

Anne Burley
Professional career began with Amnesty International in 1968 until 2002. With responsibility for a number of countries, Anne became director of the European region until she retired in 2002. Anne has also been involved in the work of the OSCE.
This the head f the ''environmental '' group.....The other baord members ae UN or European folk...just a couple of Americans...if that many...In other words///THIS IS A SOCIALIST agenda to control American Business.

[LeeCalif]

07:01 PM on 10/24/2011

Boogieman- You are a very sorry human being !

[ksmithspectrum]

03:00 PM on 10/24/2011

Found the samething on the cars in the Parking lot. The shopping carts at the grocery store, hand rails at the mall. OH NO! we've been invaded. Found lead levels on everything we touch, eat and breathe. OH NO!

[jonesalloys]

02:45 PM on 10/24/2011

HARK HARK.....STILL HAVE WORD WAR II LEAD BOATS I PLAYED WITH FOR YEARS.....DO YOU THINK I WILL GO BALD????

[HeresaClue]

01:44 PM on 10/26/2011

I think your lead exposure is readily apparent to any observer.

[anniee214]

02:12 PM on 10/24/2011

Disneyland--Don't lick the rides!