In his article Beware the Toxic Chemicals at Dollar Stores, José Bravo discusses the alarming number of toxins in the products sold at dollar stores across the United States – and the fact that the nation’s largest dollar stores continually fail to implement responsible chemical policies (while other companies like WalMart and Apple are actually making changes). Below is an excerpt:
When shopping for the holidays, most people reasonably assume that products sold in major American retail stores are free of toxic chemicals. After all, harmful substances like lead and mercury have no place in the shopping cart, and regulations must prevent this kind of dangerous exposure, right?
Unfortunately, this is not the case. A recent study revealed that over half of the items tested on dollar stores’ shelves contained toxic chemicals. This includes:
- lead found in tablecloths, jewelry, and baby toys (known links to brain development harm);
- phthalates in school supplies, silly straws, and bath toys (links to early puberty in girls, birth defects in the male reproductive system, obesity, and diabetes);
- BPA in receipts, cookware, and can linings (can affect the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children); and
- PFAS—long-lasting synthetic chemicals—found in popcorn bags that can affect the immune system and liver function.
…Dollar stores’ leadership has been aware for over a decade that their products contain lead, BPA, phthalates, and PFAS, jeopardizing customer health. During this time, environmental justice and public health groups nationwide have advocated for safer products. Investors in these companies have raised concerns directly with management and through shareholder resolutions. Yet, the problem persists.
Even this year (2024), Dollar Tree knowingly kept lead-contaminated apple sauce on its shelves, putting children in harm’s way. The stores have taken only minimal actions to address a handful of chemicals in some product categories.
About the Author / How You Can Help
José Bravo is the national coordinator for the Campaign for Healthier Solutions, a community-led, collaborative project of the Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform and Coming Clean that includes farmworker advocates, environmental justice communities and environmental health organizations.
The Campaign for Healthier Solutions urges the nation’s largest dollar stores to implement corporate policies to phase out harmful chemicals in the products they sell, mandate the use of safer chemicals, and stock healthy, locally-grown foods in their stores. Follow CHS on Facebook »