Today I learned something new – plastic Christmas trees are made with PVC plastic (the most toxic kind) and release lead dust as they age! So, if you let your children crawl under the tree or handle presents that have been sitting under the tree, they’re likely to be exposed to extremely toxic lead dust. My kids love to play under my mom’s fake Christmas tree – oops!
Also, in case you’re not aware, be careful about letting children help you hang the Christmas lights. The electric cords of most Christmas lights are insulated with PVC. Again, lead is used in the PVC to stabilize it and as a fire retardant. Any adult or older child who hangs the lights should be sure to wash their hands thoroughly afterwards.
We buy a locally grown, fresh Christmas tree. Real trees are renewable resources that can be recylced (as wood chip, for example – many cities have recylcing programs) or composted. Plus, when you buy a real tree locally, you encourage the growth of more trees to freshen the air of your state. Buying locally reduces wasteful transporting expenses and the fossil-fuel to transport as well. Ideally, buy an organic tree to reduce pesticide use and avoid bringing pesticides into your home - but I have yet to see them for sale around here.
Sadly, there are hazards to consider when buying real Christmas trees too. It is widely practiced for tree growers to spray Christmas trees with green paint prior to sell. Really! I know this from a friend who is an arborist and from another friend who used to work for a Christmas tree farm. The green paint evens out the appearance of the foilage and keeps it looking fresh longer.
Fraser Fir
As you can imagine that cheap green paint, is not so healthy for the air quality in your home! If you buy local, you can ask your farmer for an unsprayed tree. Or, buy a Fraser Fir, a Christmas tree variety that is much less likely to be sprayed. Fraser’s (pictured here) are beautiful trees!
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