Q&A: Are Christmas tree lights covered in lead?

While putting up our artificial trees this past week, I became dizzy and nauseated. Both trees were assembled two days apart and I had the same symptoms lasting about 1.5 hours each time. I made sure to wash my hands when the task was complete and never touched my mouth or face while assembling. Assembling the two trees are the only two abnormal things I had in common on these two days. I am a healthy person and do not usually have dizzy or nausea spells. Is this a sign of lead poisoning? And should I do anything about it? Any insight is much appreciated.

If you’re concerned about lead, I would search online for information on whether you can have sudden onset lead poisoning. I don’t think it works quite so fast though - I do think it takes a while.

What I assume is that you had a reaction to the chemicals on the needles of the tree. I will often have dizziness and nausea when I am around chemicals, fresh paint, and new clothes and blankets that need washing.

You may want to ask someone else to put up and take down your trees and if you continue to have symptoms, you may not be able to use them at all.

Don’t feel badly about real trees as they’re planted specifically for cutting and tree farms give our atmosphere a ton of oxygen that wouldn’t have been there without them.

You may also switch to a live tree in a pot that you can plant at the park or in your back yard. These would not have the same amount of messy needles dropping through the holidays.

Good luck!

Sorry to be nitpicky, but I’d actually rather have leeches on my Christmas tree (not that I’d ever cut down a tree just to park it in my house for two weeks anyway) than have lead dust leach onto my hands or into the air.

In 2006 after reading in your website your comments about lead in artificial trees and ornaments we through away all our cristmas decorations and artifial tree. We bought a farm raise christmas tree and made home made ornaments. We have two children under 6 years of age and take no chances with there health.
I looked for Christmas lights whose wires are free of lead but haven’t found any till now

I’d like to say that I live in Kentucky. I bought brand new lights from a Walmart here, which contains the Product 65 Warning label for lead. Who said on here that those are only sold in California?! I bought them right here in KY and hate to say it but ALL lights have it…if they didn’t, they would be a fire hazard. Lead is not a conducter. It’s a protectant. It has to be on the lights…wash hands a lot. I have 3 kids. There is no other choice.