Go to
http://www.volexpowercords.com/

and look at the bottom of the page.

Anyone care to explain?

Lead is going to be (or is already) the next asbestos. I saw this same note on something the other day but I can't remember what it was right now.

Roger

I see that warning on holiday-light strings also. I don't quite understand why there is lead in vulcanized rubber or PVC plastic...but it's not really a "coating" of lead on the insulation itself.

The lead is IN the insulation is my understanding -- it is part of the plastic manufacturing process...so it really won't leach out into your hands. Still it's a good idea to wash your hands before eating.

Ah. This might explain why the Swedish building cable says "Lead free". I thought it meant no lead shield (old cables had) but I now realise it must refer to the plastic itself.

Lead is used as a stabilizer in some plastics.

As the plastic decays (weathering, mechanical wear, oxidation), the lead can be released onto the surface as a fine dust.

Usually this isn't a problem, but in some situations you can get lead dust levels that exceed regulatory maximums. One example _may_ be plastic mini-blinds, which have lots of surface area, and sit in sunny windows getting lots of daylight exposure.

Here is a discussion on lead in plastic toys. I won't say that it isn't biased; the company makes wood toys, but it provides decent background on the topic.
http://www.turnertoys.com/pvc3Stabilizers.htm

-Jon

don't worry, it will only affect you if you live in california

I've seen this warning on a lot of holiday light strings lately, but never on an extension cord. I thought it had to do with using recycled plastic, and the posibility that the plastic had been in contact with lead in the past.

winnies post seems to be the best explanation. a long time ago i remember hearing something about lead and vinal blinds.

Im sure under normal circumstances, the amount of lead is so small that it doesn't stand a chance of harming you. the companny is just covering their asses against lawyers.

There was a recall on some blinds in the recent past because of lead. At the time, I ASSumed they must have been made from a lead alloy of some kind.

Here's a link:
http://www.fabriclink.com/alert/Ace0600.html

... Does this include Romex..? ? ?

There's an urban legend (maybe a myth?) that I've heard in quite a few different places about an oldelectrician that used to chew a piece of TW insulation.
He'd strip off a piece in the morning, and chew on it all day (like gum, or a piece of straw).
"Legend" holds that he died of lead poisoning.
There may be more to this than myth...S

Electure, with that thought in mind, I hope wing nuts aren't a lead hazard.

Roger

Saw an article a little while ago that basically said that removing old plenum rated communications cables from buildings (as the code requires) is going to require a hazmat company because of the lead dust. Why only plenum I don't know.

Yes,
I would agree with the idea that Lead is used in the manufacture, at least it was up until 1998 here.
There was a case of an Electrician over here that died from Lead-poisoning, in 1997.
The said Electrician had recently given up smoking and had taken to chewing on off-cuts of TPS insulation, to relieve his cravings, to "have something between his lips".
As to the idea that Wool gives off cyanide fumes when burnt, personally having been through the odd Wool Scour Fire, I can say that this is patently untrue.
Even though the smoke from this semi-wet wool is usually pretty acrid and nasty, we did a Chemical test on the smoke and found no trace of any cyano-particulates.

BTW,
As far as I am concerned, this is no "Urban Legend" or whatever.
I lost my co-worker in 1997 because of this,
take from this what you like.

I just got some test clips for my fluke and it had they same warning. I don't think all cables have lead in them do they? Just the ones that feel/smeal weird like my test clips