What are the scariest attractions at Disneyland? It may not be the roller-coasters, if an environmental group’s accusations are well-founded. The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation filed an injunction last week that would require the Anaheim, Calfornia park to post warning signs or cover surfaces found to contain lead. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mateel had filed a lawsuit in Orange County court in April, alleging “excessive levels of lead in such commonly touched objects as the Sword in the Stone attraction,” along with brass door knobs at Minnie’s House, stained-glass windows in a door at the entrance to a beauty salon in Cinderella’s Castle” and several other locations. Last year, Mateel sent individuals to conduct “wipe testing” of various surfaces at Disneyland. They found that a number of surfaces contained many more times the amount of lead than that which requires a posted sign. According to the International Business Times, signs are required when “average exposure exceeds 0.5 micrograms per day.” Disney has claimed that they have posted warning signs and are not violating California law. A Disney spokeswoman told the Los Angeles Times, “We have not seen the papers that we are told are being filed, so we cannot comment specifically. However, we believe that Disneyland Resort is in full compliance with the signage requirements.” The research director at the Center For Environmental Health said in a press release, “It’s disappointing that a $38 billion company like Disney can’t be bothered to clean up their parks so they’re safe for children. We’re telling our supporters to send a message to Disney today: there is no place for lead poisoning at the world’s happiest place.” Lead is on the list of chemicals covered by California’s 1986 Proposition 65 that requires the labeling of products or places that contain “chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.” According to health experts, lead poisoning occurs when individuals’ blood contains 10 micrograms per deciliter. This week is the CDC’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. The CDC reported this summer that lead poisoning among American adults has dropped by over 50 percent in the past 15 years. Read The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation’s “Danger at Disneyland: Lead Hazards At The Happiest Place On Earth” here.
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on October 25, 2011. Filed under News.
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on October 25, 2011. Filed under