Paulson Chips contain toxic levels of lead - Associated Press

cero_z · #1 11-09-2007, 03:17 PM

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Oh [censored]! My toddler is playing with some custom made Paulson chips. I am sure he put them in his mouth at one time or another. Time to lock them up!

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This kind of comment, which has been made a couple of times, is idiotic. Obviously as products containing tons of lead in them get old/get damaged/rub together, lead particles will be loose. That was explored in the abc news vid. I, like others who've played a lot of live poker, tend to handle my chips obsessively while playing. Hopefully, people wash their hands before eating, etc., but obviously the presence of lead dust presents a very real threat for people who are in contact with it for many hours per day. Lead dust can come home on your skin and clothes, too; not just the stray chips you have lying around.

If my comments are missing some important scientific info, someone please correct me, but it's not as simple as "keeping your custom Paulson chips out of your toddler's mouth." What are the odds that other clay chips besides Paulson's contain lead? Are there like 100 different ways that clay chips are made? My gut says probably not.

EasilyFound · #2 11-10-2007, 01:00 PM

My TRKing chips, which I've owned for 10+ years, contain lead. My Blue Chip Co. chips do not. Nor do my plastic faux clay chips. I tested each this morning with a lead testing kit.

My only real concern about lead in chips is that I like to riffle my chips while playing, and I have a stack of chips by my computer that I riffle while on line. If you are someone who likes to riffle chips, and use chips with lead, I imagine that riffling chips will release some kind of particles into the air. How much of a health hazard it is, I don't know.

But I guess all things being equal, why play with chips manufactured with lead? Especially if you do have children at home.

tikipirate · #3 11-10-2007, 02:07 PM

This just in, you shouldn't be licking your poker chips...and washing your hands before you eat is a +EV move...glad the AP is here to tell me these things.