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