Local Mateel Foundation seeks injunction against Disney
By Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel
Finding excessive levels of lead on the brass door knobs at Minnie’s House, the handle of the Sword in Stone, stained glass windows in Cinderella’s Castle, brass chains, drinking fountains, and other items throughout Disneyland, the Eureka-based Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation is seeking a court injunction to force the theme park to remedy the problems or post health notices.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the Eureka based eco-group filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court in April against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. Inc., alleging toxic levels of lead were found.
In June and December the Mateel Justice Foundation conducted wipe testing in various places within Disneyland to mimic what happens when children touch lead-tainted items. In those tests, participants wiped their hands with a laboratory towelette and touched windows, brass chains and door knobs throughout the park. They then wiped their hands with a second towelette to be analyzed by an independent laboratory.
“These tests found hand lead exposures at the Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan Ride and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride of 1 microgram, 9.75 micrograms and 5.82 micrograms respectively,” the Mateel Foundation said. “A wipe sample taken from a stained-glass Pinocchio window in the dining area of Village Haus restaurant found a lead exposure of 350 micrograms.”
“We are asking the court to force Disney to take steps that should have been taken when we first told them that children at Disneyland are in danger of illegal lead exposures,” said local attorney and Mateel President, William Verick.
Under state law, warnings are required if exposure for average users exceeds 0.5 micrograms per day. Excessive levels of lead are considered toxic. Lead attacks the nervous and reproductive systems, causes cognitive and behavioral changes and increases the risk of cancer.
Disney rejected the lawsuit allegations maintaining the park posts adequate warnings about lead-tainted fixtures and figurines, as required by state law, according to Court documents.
“We have not seen the papers that we are told are being filed, so we cannot comment specifically. However, we believe that Disneyland Resort is in full compliance with the signage requirements of state law,” Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown said.
The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation, located at 424 1st Street in Eureka, is a nonprofit group that has filed dozens of environmental suits against major companies contending they violate California’s Proposition 65 toxics law.
Lead exposure is typically from hand to mouth. For concerned visitors and children alike, wash your hands well. One commentator added, “and don’t lick the stained-glass windows.”
For further reading, the Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation report is here: Danger at Disneyland: Lead Hazards at the World’s Happiest Place
Disney’s report on Parks and Resorts Safety is here
A bit bored these days? No one to sue? Try Disneyland! Need some cash to buy a new boat! Those dumb asses have to also realize that those rides were built in the 70′s before the lead laws were enacted. How many times have they been painted since then? Someone had to go through several layers of non-lead paint to get to the first layers.