Halloween Study 2014

Hidden Dangerous Chemicals in Popular Halloween Costumes and "Trick or Treat" Bags

Study Finds Costumes and Party Supplies Sold by Top Retailers Contain Hazardous Additives in Costumes and Accessories

HealthyStuff.org tested 106 Halloween related products, including costumes, accessories, decorations and party favors. Make-up and face paints were not sampled. Specifically we tested:

  • 44 Costumes
  • 40 Accessories
  • 22 Decorations and party favors

Our testing found heavy metals and other additives are commonly found in Halloween costumes and accessories. These chemicals include lead, flame retardants, tin compounds and phthalates -- harmful chemicals that are linked to asthma, reproductive problems, developmental and learning disabilities, hormone problems and cancer.

Media Resources:

Published on October 23, 2014

Sample Listing

30 Halloween LED C3 Lights
high
Bag O Mice
high
Bag O Snakes
high
Batman and Superman Double Sided Cape
low
Batman Cowl and Batarang
low
Bats
high
Big Bag of Bugs
high
Big Bop Light Stick
high
Blue Beaded Heart Wand
high
Blue Princess Wand
high
Bucket
none
Butterfly Costume with Wings and Antenna Headband
low
Cape and Mask
medium
Captain America Hero Mask
medium
Captain America The Winter Soldier Jumpsuit with Mask
medium
Cars Halloween Bag
high
Chinless Crazies Mask
high
Cinderella Dress
high
Cinderella Gloves Long
high
Cinderella Princess Jewel Rings
low
Decorative Nail Accessories
low
Deluxe Fairy Costume Dress and Wings
high
Deluxe Feather Mask
high
Disney Princess Ariel Costume
low
Disney Princess Barrettes
high
Disney Princess Cinderella Costume
high
Disney Princess Hair Accessory Set
high
Disney Princess Shoe Boutique
high
Disney Wall Art
high
Favor Pack - Witch fingers
high
Flashing Duck
high
Flashing Necklace
high
Flicker Lights
high
Foam Clown Nose
medium
Foam Eye Mask
high
Foam Sword
low
Fright Tape
high
Frozen Princess Shoes
high
Frozen Princess Barrettes
low
Frozen Princess Hair Headband
high
Frozen Princess Slipper Shoes
high
Frozen Princess Tiara
low
Frozen Princess Tiara Glasses
low
Frozen Tutu Dress
low
Glam Heels
high
GlowN Bracelets
medium
Halloween Duck
high
Hanging Skeleton
high
Hulk Gloves
high
Hulk Hero Mask
medium
Iron Man 2 Muscle Suit with Mask
high
Iron Man 3 Muscle Costume Set
high
Jasmine Princess Tiara
high
Light Up Chasing Necklace
high
Light Up Slap Watch
high
Light Up Trick or Treat Bucket
low
Little Mermaid Tutu Dress
medium
Living Solutions Orange Pumpkin Lights
high
Minnie Mouse Hair Ponies
low
Monster Teeth
low
My Little Pony Hair Accessory Set
high
Party Treat Bags
medium
Pink Butterfly Set - Wings Tiara and Wand
high
Pink Fabric Princess Tiara
medium
Pink Fairy Wings
low
Pink Foam Princess Wand
medium
Pink Princess Wand - 12 Pack
low
Pink Purse and Gloves Set
low
Pink Tiaras - 6 Pack
low
Pirate Costume Kit
high
Pirate Set with Sword and Eye Patch
low
Playful Pirate Costume
medium
Pop Eyed Monster
high
Pretty in Pink Dress with Light-Up Skirt
medium
Princess Dress-Up Accessories
high
Princess Fairy Set
low
Princess Halloween Bag
high
Pumpkin People Bottle
low
Purple Dress-Up Shoes
high
Queen of Glam Tiara and Earrings
low
Royal Queen Costume
medium
Severed Fingers
high
Silver Mini Crown
high
Silver Princess Jewelry Set - 3 pc
medium
Silver Princess Tiara
high
Silver Tiara with Pink Beads
low
Sleeping Beauty Jewelry Set
low
Sofia the First Jewelry Set
medium
Sofia the First Princess Necklace
high
Solid Plastic Tablecloth
low
Spider Web
high
Spooky Window Cover
low
Superman Man of Steel Costume
medium
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Jumpsuit with Mask
medium
The Amazing Spiderman 2 Jumpsuit with Mask
high
The Amazing Spiderman 2 Muscle Costume
medium
Tiara and Jewelry Set
high
Tinker Bell Costume
high
Tinker Bell Green Fashion Headband
medium
Tinker Bell Wand
high

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IMPORTANT NOTE: HealthyStuff.org ratings do not provide a measure of health risk or chemical exposure associated with any individual product, or any individual element or related chemical.