Their fashion accessories with toxic levels of lead. KTVU Jana Katsuyama spoke Environmental Ht issued this report. So, Jana, what's their warning for consumers? >> Well, Julie, they really wanted to raise awareness. This nonprofit, which is based in for retail stores. >> People usually don't think of shopping as a health hazard, buk announced that discount retail chains Ross and Burlington have been selling products with high levels of lead. >> What we found isúthat handbags,, whether they're leather or they're full leather. Right Disproportionately have high levels of lead. >> Kizzy Charles Guzmanúis the chiefC She says in 2011, she won a legal settlement against hundreds of retailers, requiring them to reduce lead levels in fashion accessories.úThe CEA report, released this week, says Ross and Burlington remain the worst offenders. CEA investigators went to 63 Ross stores and 15 Burlington than oy area. Lab tests showed hundreds of their items under a wide range of brand names, had lead levels above 300 parts per million, compared to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's limit of 100 parts per million for children's items. We >> We absolutely need better regulations at the federal level. Lead tremendous impact on our body. It is especially harmful to children. >> If you go to any of the stores in like in the city, you assume that they they're are sao buy. I test my handbag, you know, the handles on my bags. And I touch myT& all kinds of stuff. >> By law, California employers also have an obligation to protectútheir workers from lead. >>úUnder Cal OSHA regulations specifically, they have an obligation to be aware of when lead exposures are happening and then to conduct testing of their employees and their environments to make sure those lead exposures are controlled for. >> Robert Murray is an the Calif Commerce. He says Cal OSHA just passed new, stricter lead regulations last month that apply to all workplaces, including retailersC, was under the prior regulation. >> You had workers with exposure up to 50 micrograms of lead, and now you're dropping that down to ten micrograms of lead over an eight hour shift. So it's drastically lower. Sp>> I did re& and Burlington reads in part at Ross, the health and safety of our customers and associates is of utmost importance. We have our supplies to meet applicable product safety and labeling standards at <font color="#FF00FF"><u>Spcompliance, we investigate and</u></font> take prompt action so received e from Burlington. We to the repor website under weblinks. Julie. >> It's kind of scary when you think about it, especially if Spr workers and for consumers. But really, if we look at our products, there's really no way you can look at something and tell if it has lead in it unless it's tested right. >> There isn't. One of the things they found is that in faux leather, the fake leather, thatúis where they were the highest. They emphasized that it's important to wash your hands,úand there are also some consumer test kits, you know, paint.úThose are out in thelead market. But really they to see e regulation from people of these companies
