Independent testing commissioned by the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) has found high levels of lead in some children's Little League baseball uniforms belts, including a Rawlings belt sold at Wal-Mart, and belts from Sports Authority and Dick's Sporting Goods.
Another belt was found with more than 280 times more lead than the federal safety standards set for lead in children's products, according to a statement from the Center for Environmental Health.
CEH said it has sent legal notices that the belts violate California consumer protection law to the belt retailers and to the state.
“Parents outfitting their children for Little League should know that some uniform belts may pose a lead hazard,” said Caroline Cox, Research Director at CEH. “There is no crying in baseball, and there shouldn't be any lead either.”
CEH's legal notices identify four belts with lead levels far in excess of the federal standard. The surface material on the lead-taintedbelts range from more than 2.8% to nearly 8.5% lead. CEH said it is concerned that children can be exposed to lead in excess of California safety standards through hand-to-mouth contact when they put belts on and off and any time they touch the belts. The group's testing is ongoing; concerned parents may contact CEH about free lead screening.
