Vinyl Mini-Blinds (Lead Dust)

Imported PVC window blinds that degrade in sunlight.

51Moderate burden · out of 100
Cleaner swapAluminium, wood, or certified lead-free blinds

How this score is built

  1. 100Start
  2. 77Chemical hazard 5 × 4.6−23
  3. 66.8Everyday exposure 3 × 3.4−10.2
  4. 51Persistence 6 × 2.6−15.6, then rounded to 51
  5. ModerateThe band51 sits in 40–59.

What each input rests on

The three ratings behind the score, and the studies each rests on
InputRatingEvidence
Chemical hazard5/10unsourced input
Everyday exposure3/10
  • Of 92 lead-poisoned North Carolina children, 48% were exposed to vinyl miniblinds with dust lead of 100 µg/ft² or more, and the blinds were the predominant source for 9%; even new blinds made before July 1996 averaged above 100 µg/ft².

    Childhood lead poisoning and vinyl miniblind exposure · Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1997

    DOI 10.1001/archpedi.1997.02170470067012 · PMID 9343015 · Abstract, Results · read 2026-10-12

Persistence6/10unsourced input

Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built

What this means for you

Older or imported PVC blinds can be stabilised with lead, which forms a fine dust on the surface as the plastic ages in sunlight. Non-PVC blinds avoid it entirely.

Evidence strength: moderate

See where your whole exposure load is highest — free Exposure Score →

This entry and the whole Index, on your phone.

Get it on Google Play

Lower-exposure choices