In response to the public warning bulletin from Health Canada, dated June 25, 1996 that horizontal plastic mini-blinds may contain lead levels harmful to children, the Prince Edward Island Department of Environmental Resources is issuing the following advisory for safe handling and proper return of suspect blinds.
"We want to stress to all Islanders that it is very important not to place these blinds in household garbage," said Don Jardine, Director of Environmental Protection for the province. "The material should be carefully handled, packaged, and returned to point of sale for transportation out of the province for proper disposal. There is no in-province facility to safely dispose of this type of lead-contaminated product."
The PEI Department of Environmental Resources recommends the following:
1.) Rubber gloves should be worn when handling the material.
2.) Blinds destined for return should be securely bagged, and preferably double-bagged.
3.) Place rubber gloves and any damp cloths used to clean windows in the bag with the blinds.
4.) It should then be safely stored away from children and pets, until returned to the vendor or taken to a collection point for proper disposal.
Some department stores in Prince Edward Island are accepting the return of these blinds. It is important to have them securely bagged before delivery to the store. All blinds collected at these locations will be transported off-Island, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Resources, for specialized hazardous waste disposal.
"To avoid a concentration of lead contaminated material at the Energy From Waste plant in Charlottetown, or in any of our provincial landfill sites, it is most important that Islanders get the message that these blinds should not be placed or disposed with household garbage," Mr. Jardine stressed.
In question, is inexpensive 1" (2.54 cm) plastic (PVC, or polyvinyl chloride) mini-blinds made in China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Mexico. Approximately 8 million of these blinds have been purchased by Canadian consumers over the past 10 years.
Health Canada has determined that these products may contain up to 1.3 percent lead. Prolonged exposure to, or ingestion of, these levels of lead can cause neurological damage in young children.
Health Canada has recommended that anyone with children younger than six years, promptly remove these plastic mini-blinds from their home. They should also be removed from places frequented by young children (child care facilities, schools etc.)