The Vermont Department of Health is warning consumers to get rid of green plastic pouches they may have been given, because lead levels in the pouches could be a hazard to children.
State health officials warned today that the zippers on the pouches contain lead exceeding the state and federal safety standards.
The pouches, which have been distributed by Department of Health district offices and at health fairs, were designed to hold a cardiovascular health record card given to people to help track their blood pressure, cholesterol and weight.
Karen Garbarino, director of health promotion and disease prevention for the Health Department, says the zippers pose "minimal health risk" to adults but shouldn’t be handled by children under 12 because they could put the pouches in their mouths.