American Wick Company candles with lead-core candle wicks
Check against the official notice below — it lists the full affected range.
Candles With Lead-Core Wicks Warn
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers and religious groups in December 1976 that candles containing lead-core wicks may release small amounts of lead vapor. While the vapor from these candles alone does not present an unreasonable health hazard, the Commission noted that additional lead exposure could pose problems for people exposed to other sources of lead, such as lead-based paint in older housing or high automobile exhaust in urban areas. Lead poisoning is particularly dangerous for infants and young children, where it can cause brain damage.
The Commission identified two firms continuing to produce lead-core wicking at that time: Queens Braidworks, Inc. in Queens, New York, and American Wick Company in North Bergen, New Jersey. These wicks were primarily being used in glass container candles and votive lights burned in churches. Consumers can identify candles with lead-core wicking by examining the wick closely and peeling back the surrounding cotton braid to expose the lead wire running through the center. The source does not specify a remedy for affected consumers.
Written by software from the official notice below. Not reviewed by a lawyer.
Lead
Candles With Lead-Core Wicks Warn NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 1976 Release # 76-086 CPSC Warns Of Potential Risk Associated With Certain Candles With Lead-Core Wicks WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 10) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today warned consumers and religious groups that they may be subjecting themselves needlessly to airborne lead through use of candles containing lead-core wicks. The amount of lead vapor given off by such candles is small and does not, by itself, present an unreasonable health hazard, but the additional lead may present a problem for persons exposed to other sources of lead poisoning, such as older housing with lead-based paint, or in urban neighborhoods with high concentrations of automobile exhaust. The hazards of lead-poisoning are well documented, particularly in infants and young children where brain damage may result. In December 1973, the Health Research Group, a Washington, D.C.,-based public interest group, submitted a petition but at that time, the Commission found that the risk of illness was not sufficient to declare lead-wick candles an imminent hazard and ban them as the petition requested. In view of the known harmful effects of lead ingestion and the growing concern over amounts of lead in the environment from a variety of sources, the continued use of lead-core wicks in candles may be unwise. After the petition, the majority of the industry responded with a commitment to discontinue the use of lead-core wick as soon as a satisfactory substitute could be found and within the year, lead-wick candles were virtually off the market and the sole known producer of lead-core wicking discontinued its production and distribution. The Commission commends this action by the industry. However, it has recently come to the Commission's attention that three firms are producing lead-core wicking and that it is being purchased for use in candles. One firm has decided to cease production and sale of the wicking. Two other firms are continuing to produce lead-core wicking. The remaining two are the Queens Braidworks, Inc., Middle Village, Queens, New York; and the American Wick Company, North Bergen, New Jersey. The primary use for this new wicking appears to be in glass container candles and votive lights used by churches. Votive lights are in some cases burned perpetually and in large numbers. Since candles with lead wicks may continue to be available to consumers, the Commission is considering various options, including a labeling requirement so that all such candles can be identified as containing lead wicks. In the meantime, consumers can easily identify candles with lead-core wicking by a close examination of the candle wick. The lead wire running through the center can be exposed by peeling back the surrounding cotton braid. In view of the ready availability of adequate substitutes for lead wicks in candles, the Commission wishes to remind consumers and candle manufacturers of the needless, potentially harmful effects associated with their continued use.
Official record: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ↗
Republished from the official source above; details can change — the source record controls.