High Levels of Lead Found at Disneyland [UPDATED]
[UPDATE | Oct. 18, 2011 12:05 p.m.: A report released by the Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation says many objects in the park, particularly brass rails at attraction lines and stained-glass windows in restaurants, test as high as 700 times the state safety standard. Wipe tests revealed that some items in the California Adventure park also tested at high levels of lead.
"During several trips to the park we have been unable to locate any warning signs," the report said. "There are none at the park entrances, none on the tickets, and none near the lead-tainted attractions."]
Some of Disneyland's most popular attractions may expose children to high levels of lead, an environmental group said Tuesday.
According to the LA Times, the Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation filed a lawsuit against Disneyland claiming excessive levels of lead in many commonly touched objects around the park, such as the "Sword in the Stone" attraction, where Disneyland photographers encourage children to pose while pulling on the sword handle. The group is also seeking a court injunction to require the park to cover the offending items or post health warnings.
Other offending objects include brass doorknobs at Minnie's House and stained-glass windows in a door at the entrance to a beauty salon in Cinderella's Castle.
"We are asking the court to force Disney to take steps that should have been taken when we first told them that children are in danger of illegal lead exposures," said Mateel President William Verick.
Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown said, "We have not seen the papers that we are being told are being filed, so we cannot comment specifically. However, we believe that Disneyland Resort fully complies with the signage requirements of Proposition 65."
