zsid

I just purchased a Lazer Compact DLX MIPS Helmet and it had a California prop 65 warning stating that there is lead in the helmet. Should I return the helmet or is the helmet safe to use?

BlazingPedals

Are you planning on eating it?

KerryIrons

Hard to imagine where the lead might be. It hasn't been in paint in a long time and the rest of the helmet is plastic. Either way, unless you plan to eat parts of the helmet, any lead is not an issue because it's concentration would be extremely low. It wouldn't surprise me to find that the Prop 65 warning was a mistake.

70sSanO

There is not a single product sold in California that does not have that label.

It started out as a way to clean up toxic water. It is now a blanket liability statement used by every company.

Since the California market is so substantial for nearly every product, it is cheaper to just slap on a warning sticker that everyone ignores anyway.

John

freeranger

Only dangerous if there's enough lead to place excess weight on your neck and cause injury!

Camilo

Don't chew on the helmet, or crush it into dust-like particles and inhale them. I think you'll be fine.

Interestingly, there's actual expert information easily found online, other than in bike forums!

Lead Poisoning also known as plumbism

Causes

• Occurs when the body absorbs lead in large amounts by breathing in or swallowing substances that contain lead. It is seen after exposure to lead for months or years.

I'm a big fan of reducing pollution and toxic impacts on the environment and people's health. That said, the California warning labels are on almost everything these days. Too bad, I think they're going to become just background noise, ignored and effect-less.

Troul 

the weight penalty can be deadly sometimes.

ClydeClydeson

Is this the first time you've seen one of these warnings?
Did you return all the other products that had the warning?

AFAIK there is only one surefire strategy to getting a helmet without exposing yourself to chemicals used in plastics manufacturing:

spelger

everything known to man has a prop 65 warning on it, making prop 65 meaningless.

Iride01 

Good intentions gone awry.

I guess the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf was not read to the state leaders there when they were young.

I still can't get over the warning you read in the parking garages there..... after you park in them! <grin>

hazetguy 

wrap it in tin foil (at least 3 layers, minimum!!!), and you'll be safe.

indyfabz

Get the lead out by riding faster.

Bald Paul

The helmet will kill you.

But only if you live in California. Everywhere else, it's fine.

Pratt

Does sunny California have a Prop 65 warning at the border about the carcinogenic danger of sun exposure?

PeteHski

I wouldn't worry about it. How do you feel about other everyday health hazards? I doubt this lead threat would even make your top 1000.

livedarklions

Prop 65 did a lot of good, but the warning signs and labels are ridiculous. It's really a small part of the law:

https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/20...65-toxic-water

billridesbikes

Does this helmet have a light in it? If so guessing there might be a machined brass piece for the light or battery holder and this type of brass will contain some lead. Hence prop65 warning.

BobbyG

Or lead-based solder on the electrical parts.

BobbyG

Yes it does...
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...sYnWKmSb7_xwcJ

dedhed

Literally generations of people were raised in houses with lead pipes and paint.

gringomojado

Where is "tin foil" vailable?

gm

mschwett 

in the sense that this aspect of prop 65 was a mistake, yes. it's become a totally meaningless waste of effort, and even worse it distracts from something that MIGHT actually be hazardous since the ubiquity of them means everyone ignores them.

Troul 

pretty much like most traffic laws (stop signs) .

billridesbikes

Not to mention leaded gasoline. Made everyone dumber. Although I’m not sure it can account for all the dumbness around.

phughes

Yes, but the tag on the Sun keep burning.