A warning i dont understand

[turbo_skylane]

i just purchased a Saitek ST90.
and theres a little tag on the cable that reads. "handling this products cable will expose you to lead, a substamce that the state of california has found to cause birth defects.....Wash hands after use.

[Katahu]

If it refers to birth defects, then the warning is probably for the women who are pregnant.

[Hagar]

I would say it's nothing to worry about. Manufacturers are forced to cover themselves in case they get sued, maybe years in the future. If it's written on the cable nobody can say they were unaware of it. Reminds me of the warning on packs of peanuts.
WARNING: This product might contain traces of nuts.

[H]

Don't get into a huge fret -- I doubt it will impregnate you .

Reminds me of the warning on packs of peanuts.
WARNING: This product might contain traces of nuts.

Inflation being as it is, that may soon be all it contains

[Jimbo]

I would say it's nothing to worry about. Manufacturers are forced to cover themselves in case they get sued, maybe years in the future. If it's written on the cable nobody can say they were unaware of it. Reminds me of the warning on packs of peanuts.
WARNING: This product might contain traces of nuts.

LOL  ;)

[Souichiro]

I would say it's nothing to worry about. Manufacturers are forced to cover themselves in case they get sued, maybe years in the future. If it's written on the cable nobody can say they were unaware of it. Reminds me of the warning on packs of peanuts.
WARNING: This product might contain traces of nuts.

Or on Tesco's Semi skimmed Biological milk...

Allergy information: Contains Milk!

D'OH!

[ATI_7500]

Remove the warning tags and ban lawyers...the problem will solve itself.

[Craig.]

I have a solution to all of the worlds problems, but ozzy wont let me post it

[Souichiro]

I have a solution to all of the worlds problems, but ozzy wont let me post it

Hmmmm Sounds Interesting

[bschott]

My solution is simple.

The problem with the world is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but lets just remove all the warning lables off of everything and let Darwin sort it all out.

[TacitBlue]

I have a solution to all of the worlds problems, but ozzy wont let me post it

How on earth will pictures of naked people help?

[Theis]

^^

[JBaymore]

i just purchased a Saitek ST90. and theres a little tag on the cable that reads. "handling this products cable will expose you to lead, a substamce that the state of california has found to cause birth defects.....Wash hands after use.

I teach ceramic toxicology as part of my course load at  the NH Institute of Art.  Been teaching this subject since the mid 70's. So I have a bit of info on this that might be helpful for you.

California has legal standards for the levels of lead (and a bunch of other stuff) which is in the environment and in consumer products that is WAY more stringent than the standards typically used by the FDA and OSHA and NIOSH and other general US regulatory groups.

So any product that is sold in the State of California has to comply with not only US regulations, but also with California regulations.  The warning label you are looking at is part of those regulations.  That basically means that if there is just about ANY lead in the product at all...... it has to be labeled.

Exactly how much lead you are exposed to in handling the cable........ hard to say.  If it was a LOT.... it wouldn't be able to be sold in California at all.  Apparently however, there is SOME lead there ..... likely to imrpove the shielding capabilities or as some sort of additive that keeps the cable flexible.. or something.

Lead has a way of oxidizing in the presence of air (due O2 content).  That oxide is a fine white dust...... that usually you can't see.  The lead in the cable jacket apparently will, over time, cause a tiny bit of lead oxide to form on the outside.  If you handle this, you get it on your hands.  If you then pick up a sandwich...... you will likely ingest some.  If you rub your lips with a finger... it is on your lips.... whhich if you then lick them..... you ingest it.  And so on.

Is it a HUGE hazard in and of itself?  Will a single handling and "sandwich" do you in? Likely NOT.  But I would suggest that you don't sit there fiddling with the cable  all day .

However, if you have a total body burden (contaminant from all possible sources) of lead from other sources that tends to be high.... like living in a city, drinking water out of pipes with lead solder, doing leaded stained glass as a hobby, and soldering electronic components....... then you might wnat to be a tad careful about any additional exposures.  Because lead is not excreted easily, and it all adds up.

But for the most part......... I would not worry about it too much.

Oh..... don't chew on the cable!  


best,

...................john

[Fozzer]

How on earth will pictures of naked people help?

It prevents me from getting peanut allergy.... ... ...!

Paul.

[Paz]

How on earth will pictures of naked people help?

 Pictures of naked people, well, let's just make it naked women have helped me through some tough times in my life, so I don't see why it wouldn't help the situation in question here.