Anyone know about chemicals/safety of artificial Xmas trees?

[lkmiscnet]

Only 5 more months til Christmas, so just planning ahead...

I understand that artificial Christmas trees are made from PVC. Not sure how healthy that is to have around the home or if it off gases anything. I am also concerned about lead in the PVC.

I found this one link about the PVC:

http://www.christmastreeassociation....hristmas-trees

And this link about lead, which is quite concerning:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Artifi...3F-a0126076381

We have an artificial tree that was given to us a few years ago (it's probably more than 10 years old at least), and I'm concerned about using it now that we have a 1 yr old.

I am wondering if anyone knows any companies making "greener" artificial trees out there.

We don't want to go with a real tree because the costs are exorbitant along with various other reasons...

[bigteamug]

They are also HEAVILY treated with fire retardants.

We bought a little Norfolk pine that we used last year. You could also look for a feather tree, the really old version of fake trees.

Not sure if an aluminum one would be any safer. Wonder if they would have sharp edges...

The light strands are also nasty in terms of lead, etc. Wash your hands after putting them up, and don't let the kids do it....

Also remember that with a little one, you might do well to put your tree up on a table or such, or fence it off to keep them out of it anyways - there isn't much about trees that is kid-friendly anyways (lots of breakables, prone to tipping, water to make a mess in....), outside of the looks!

[lkmiscnet]

Yeah, it's disheartening to know just how much our world is contaminated and usually just for the sake of money and what's cheap to manufacture.

I wanted to buy an ear piece for my cell phone and the back of the package indicated that it contained lead which was a health hazard in the state of CA and to wash your hands after each use, which is just not going to happen realistically. I didn't buy that particular one, but bought one that didn't have that warning, so I don't know if it just doesn't have lead or they failed to put the warning on there. So, how many cords of other things have lead in them, like the xmas lights you mentioned?

Maybe we'll just have to buy a real tree, albeit a small one, or get a permit and chop one down in our national forest if we can figure out a safe way to haul it in our sedan without scratching the roof! Not sure about the xmas tree lights and lead...What to do?...

[bigteamug]

I think that most cords would test as having lead in them if they were tested. The labeling you see is usually for CA, where the laws are strict- I like it, since I know how nasty something is. If they don't intend to sell it in CA, or they use special packaging just for CA, you won't see the info.....

For something that is rare use, like lights, I would put them on the tree myself, wash my hands afterward, and keep the kids from touching them.

Could you fit the tree in the trunk if the lid was left slightly ajar and tied shut with rope or a bungee cord?

[DaughterOfKali]

I don't like the idea of artificial but I can't have a real tree due to allergies/asthma.

Oh, I got a prelit tree so that I don't have to fiddle with light strands.