Lead Tape=Cancer and Birth Defects??

JTop · 03-21-2013, 02:35 PM

Recently I bought some Sampras Power Strips to weight my racquets. I was very surprised to read the back label which said that California found that lead can cause serious problems. It was recommended to use gloves when handling. I found this very weird, have never heard this before. I tried using plastic gloves putting them on and it was not easy. It took the stick away and couldn't get the lead to stick on.

Do you think this is something to worry about? I think I will go with the Babolat with Tungsten. That warning bothered me even if maybe it is a false alarm.

sundaypunch · 03-21-2013, 04:48 PM

No

..........

Bartelby · 03-21-2013, 04:54 PM

High lead levels in the blood stream caused by industrial pollution is a serious problem, so it is by definition a toxic substance.

Having said that, the warnings are there to alert you to keeping the substance off your skin as much as possible rather than to suggest dire consequences from its mere use on tennis racquets.

gavna · 03-21-2013, 06:17 PM

As long as you don't try to eat it you'll be fine. Lead is a carcinogen and injesting it can cause cancer, brain damage......etc. old issue back when lead was in paint and kids would eat the paint chips........big story back in the 60s.

Handling lead tape not dangerous.......just wash your hands after handling.

marsh · 03-22-2013, 07:35 AM

Don't lick the lead tape!

TennisCJC · 03-22-2013, 07:57 AM

Use bare hands to apply and remove lead tape all the time. As said above, don't ingest it. Wash your hands afterwards and no worries with lead tape. Hell, Sampras and Djoko and 100s of others have big junks of it all over their frames.

beernutz · 03-22-2013, 09:07 AM

Chotobaka · 03-23-2013, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTop

Recently I bought some Sampras Power Strips to weight my racquets. I was very surprised to read the back label which said that California found that lead can cause serious problems. It was recommended to use gloves when handling. I found this very weird, have never heard this before. I tried using plastic gloves putting them on and it was not easy. It took the stick away and couldn't get the lead to stick on.

Do you think this is something to worry about? I think I will go with the Babolat with Tungsten. That warning bothered me even if maybe it is a false alarm.

Nothing to worry about. It is a CA state mandated requirement due to Prop 65. Not complying has stiff legal penalties and enforcement is becoming a real hot button. Recently, ambulance chasing attorneys are jumping on the bandwagon, attempting to generate class action lawsuits using Pro 65 as leverage. There is a humungous laundry list of materials/substances that must be disclosed and carry warnings.

Chotobaka · 03-23-2013, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beernutz

Just classic, man. Don't you just love our "nanny" society?

SFrazeur · 03-23-2013, 05:31 PM

Assuming playing with a racquet with LOTS of lead tape does not make your hair fall out (and it just hereditary) then Sampras has had no problem using lead tape.

-SF

Say Chi Sin Lo · 03-23-2013, 07:01 PM

If you're worried about getting cancer from lead tapes, then you should stop going out into the sun.

coolblue123 · 03-26-2013, 04:12 AM

I just slapped some electrical tape over it. It's relatively light. Otherwise, I just use duct tape and use less lead.

TroutSc · 03-26-2013, 04:24 AM

It's safe in the other 49 states. Only dangerous in California.

El Diablo · 03-26-2013, 04:56 AM

There's evidence that inorganic lead can be absorbed through skin, though it's not generally significant unless the lead compound is in powder form. Curiously, washing your hands afterward with soap was found to further INCREASE the absorption, as the soap-lead combination makes the lead more soluble in skin and even for that brief moment increased the amount absorbed into the skin (per a study done about five years ago). What seems harder to find is any evidence that lead absorbed via skin penetrates further into capillaries and general circulation, or is eventually shed in layers of dead skin.

stapletonj · 04-02-2013, 06:23 PM

this is why you should wash your hands with sandpaper and not soap and water!

db10s · 04-03-2013, 01:45 PM

Here you go... I use these after gun cleaning....

http://www.brownells.com/shooting-ac...prod21601.aspx

03-21-2013, 02:35 PM	#1
JTop New User Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1	Lead Tape=Cancer and Birth Defects?? Recently I bought some Sampras Power Strips to weight my racquets. I was very surprised to read the back label which said that California found that lead can cause serious problems. It was recommended to use gloves when handling. I found this very weird, have never heard this before. I tried using plastic gloves putting them on and it was not easy. It took the stick away and couldn't get the lead to stick on. Do you think this is something to worry about? I think I will go with the Babolat with Tungsten. That warning bothered me even if maybe it is a false alarm.

03-21-2013, 04:54 PM	#3
Bartelby Legend Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,635	High lead levels in the blood stream caused by industrial pollution is a serious problem, so it is by definition a toxic substance. Having said that, the warnings are there to alert you to keeping the substance off your skin as much as possible rather than to suggest dire consequences from its mere use on tennis racquets. __________________ Every government has its secret service branch ... A messy job? Well that's when they usually call on me ... Oh yes, my name is Drake, John Drake.

03-22-2013, 09:07 AM	#7
beernutz Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: expanding my Ignore List Posts: 3,379	__________________ A Head Microgel Radical, a Neos 1k, and a Silent Partner Star. Life is good.

03-23-2013, 05:31 PM	#10
SFrazeur Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: 1164 Morning Glory Circle Posts: 5,703	Assuming playing with a racquet with LOTS of lead tape does not make your hair fall out (and it just hereditary) then Sampras has had no problem using lead tape. -SF __________________ Babolat Pure Drive "Black" (1/4) w/ Skin Feel replacment grip. Solinco Tour Bite 16 @ 55 and Tourna Grip XL

03-23-2013, 07:01 PM	#11
Say Chi Sin Lo Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,763	If you're worried about getting cancer from lead tapes, then you should stop going out into the sun. __________________ Wilson BLX Six.One Tour 90. 374g, 8pts HL, SW=355 (according to TW's calculator)

03-21-2013, 04:48 PM	#2
sundaypunch Professional Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 907	No ..........

04-03-2013, 01:45 PM	#16
db10s Hall Of Fame Join Date: May 2012 Location: S. FL Posts: 1,971	Here you go... I use these after gun cleaning.... http://www.brownells.com/shooting-ac...prod21601.aspx __________________ Dunlop D-Squad Member... So I'm biased towards Dunlop. Biomimetic Max 200G x3 and a few others...