Dollar stores are a great place to find the best deals and awesome bargains on some of your favorite products.
But not everything is created equal when it comes to the dollar store; some items just aren’t worth the health risks they may pose to your family.
According to consumer testing group HealthyStuff.org, plenty of products sold at big-name dollar stores contain high levels of hazardous chemicals.
Here are 4 items to avoid buying at a dollar store:
- Toy Cars: While many brands of toy cars contain bromine, some have actually tested positive for traces of arsenic and lead, according to HealthyStuff.org.
- Latex Work Gloves: Inexpensive latex work gloves may contain high levels of chlorine and antimony, a metal found in flame retardants and used to manufacture polyester. Constant exposure to antimony has been known to cause irritation of the eyes, skin, throat, and even the stomach.
- Silly Straws: According to HealthyStuff.org, these extra flexible straws are packed with phthalates, harmful chemicals that do not bind to plastics. This means they can easily make their way into food and drinks. A report in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health found that phthalates can negatively impact reproduction, when tested in animal studies.
- Metal Earrings: Thinking of buying a cheap pair of earrings for your kids? Maybe hold that thought for now. It is well-known in the scientific community that cheap metal jewelry often contains traces of lead. According to the World Health Organization, lead exposure is never considered safe. Over time, lead has the power to negatively impact the liver, brain, and kidneys, which is why it’s so important to keep your children away from anything that may contain it.
