Results in for March Badness Tournament for College Promotional Products
In summary, 16 of the 18 products tested from phthalates contained phthalate plasticizers, a CPSC-banned substance in children's products. While 71 percent of the 65 products contained at least one concerning chemical, 38 percent contained two or more of those chemicals.
A University of Michigan Jersey from Target contained more than 5,027 ppm of bromine—the highest found in the study—and 131 ppm of lead in the ink print. A University of Michigan seat cushion contained high levels of lead and cadmium while one of its keychains contained 125 ppm of arsenic and another contained 1,230 ppm of mercury.
Amanda L. Cole is the editor-in-chief of NonProfit PRO. She was formerly editor-in-chief of special projects for NonProfit PRO's sister publication, Promo Marketing. Contact her at acole@napco.com.