Lead-Free Cloth Extension Cords

by Debra Lynn Dadd | Oct 10, 2014 | Q & A | 8 comments

Question from STAR

Hi,

I was wondering where I could purchase lead free etc. extension chords.

Thanks!

Debra’s Answer

I’m so glad you asked this question! I just struck a gold mine of possibilities for you.

I searched on “lead-free extension cord” and got zero results.

Then I tried “cloth extension cord” and bingo!

	Vintage Cloth Braided Extension Cord by FosterWeld
	6′ Extension Cord – Cloth Cord Vintage Replica in Red
	BLACK and WHITE zig zag cloth covered CORD for electric lamps, lighting, fans, radio
	Cloth Extension Cord – MUSTARD – Vintage Style – Cloth Covered Cord – Electrical Cord – 10-foot
	Cloth Extension Cord – Black Cloth Covered Wire – 10-ft Cordset – Vintage Style – Edison Lamp
	cloth LAMP EXTENSION CORD wire CABLE ELECTRIC light STEAMPUNK neon colors
	Cloth Extension Cord – ANTIQUE COPPER – Vintage Style – Cloth Covered Cord – Vintage – Antique – Steampunk – Electrical Cord – 10-foot
	Cloth Extension Cord – Peppermint Twist – Cloth Covered Wire – 10-ft Cordset – Vintage Style – Edison Lamp
	Cloth Extension Cord – SILVER – Vintage Style – Cloth Covered Exy Cord – Vintage – Antique – Steampunk – Electrical Cord – 10-foot
	8′ Extension Cord – Cloth Cord Vintage Replica in Red
	Cloth Extension Cord – Antique Bronze Cloth Covered Wire – 10-ft Cordset – Vintage Style – Edison Lamp
	Cloth Extension Cord – Red and White Twist – Cloth Covered Wire – 10-ft Cordset – Vintage Style – Dont hide under Christmas Tree Skirt
	Cloth Extension Cord – Sterling Silver Gray Cloth Covered Wire – 10-ft Cordset – Vintage Style – Edison Lamp
	Cloth Extension Cord – ANTIQUE BRONZE – Vintage Style – Cloth Covered Cord – Vintage – Antique – Steampunk – Electrical Cord – 10-foot
	Extension Cord w/ Cloth Covered ZigZag Wire – Matches our Pendant Lights – Red, White, Black – Plug In Cord for Outlets
	Cloth Covered Extension Cord – Vintage Style – Brown- Twisted Fabric Electrical Cord – Great for Antiques, Lamps, Steampunk, Fans, etc.
	Cloth Covered Extension Cord – 10′ Black Brown Red Vintage Style Lamp Wire

Why are we concerned about lead on extension cords? Because virtually all extension cords and cords of any kind contain lead, known to the state of California to cause cancer. Many products now carry this warning:

WARNING: Handling the power cord on this product will expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause [cancer and] birth defects or other reproductive harm. WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING

All power cords for all products. All extension cords, All surge protectors.

It takes only seconds for your skin to absorb lead from touching cords, lead paint, or anything else containing lead.

The European Union has ban[ned] the placing new electrical and electronic equipment on the EU market containing more than agreed levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants.” Their cords are RoHS (Restricion of Hazardous Materials) compliant.

But I couldn’t find any internet source of RoHS compliant cables available for consumer purchase. There’s a business someone should start.

So cloth-covered cord is the solution for the moment. You can even find some products now with cloth-covered cord, like this lamp I bought from Crate & Barrel.

8 Comments

Beverly on October 30, 2014 at 3:44 am

I’ve recently had to track down the source of lead exposure in my child. Tore apart the entire house and tested it top to bottom. Seems to have been a fluke errant test as I never found anything and his follow up was just fine. Tested products, water, soil, furniture, toys, dust, paint, everything. During my search, I also spoke to the doctor, health officials and abatement specialists and was uniformly told that you *cannot* absorb lead through your skin. You can get it on your skin and then transfer it to your mouth, but it does not go through the skin.
Reply
- Debra Lynn Dadd on November 4, 2014 at 4:40 pm
  
  I checked with toxicologist Dr. Stephen Gilbert about this question of absorbing lead through the skin. Here’s what he said. “Very little lead is absorbed through the skin. The reader is correct that if there is lead on the hands in can be transferred to food and ingested. Kid are particularly vulnerable because of direct hand to mouth behavior. The first thing my grandchildren do when coming in the house is take off their shoes and wash their hands and always wash before eating. Power cords made from recycled PVCs may have some lead but exposure minor unless you are sucking on the cord. best to wash, wash, wash with soap with no anti-biotics.”
  Reply
  - TA on November 4, 2014 at 9:32 pm
    
    Debra, I’ve recently read that lead can “slough off” (there is probably a better way to describe it) and get into dust in our homes. In other words, the lead doesn’t just stay in the cord or the PVC Christmas tree, etc, but can get into the dust, which children then easily ingest. Is this true?
    Reply
    - Debra Lynn Dadd on November 10, 2014 at 8:57 pm
      
      Household dust is actually the most common source of lead exposure, but I’ve never heard of it “sloughing off” of PVC. It does, however, slough off from lead paint, particularly doors and windows where there a a scraping of the painted surface during use. This dust then settles on things and children put those objects in their mouths. Lead dust may not be visible to the naked eye.
      Reply
- Patricia Ferris on December 31, 2019 at 2:32 pm
  
  So, would you say, clothing, blankets, etc. that have cords rub up against them, are fine to just wash in a regular load of laundry? Does the lead wash out?
  Reply
  - Lisa Powers on December 31, 2019 at 5:35 pm
    
    Lead washes off of the skin so I assume that it would also wash off of clothes.
    Reply
Star on October 15, 2014 at 10:26 pm

Thanks Debra!
Reply
- JP on February 22, 2015 at 7:39 am
  
  I believe that lead comes off of various materials for at least 2 reasons: one is that the lead is sometimes not chemically bound to the main substance, such as lead in some brass items; the second is that the lead may loosen from the item (and become a part of house dust) when the item’s material has deteriorated (for example, from age, harsh cleaning agents, or sun exposure).
  Reply