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Chemical Hazards in Mardi Gras Beads: 2020 Update

Published on July 18, 2020

In late 2018 and early 2019, we tested 56 beaded necklaces collected from Gasparilla parades in Florida and from Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana. For necklaces that contained multiple bead colors or pendants, we tested these different components separately.

Of 66 components tested in the 56 necklaces, We found most of them contained high levels of bromine (70% of tested samples) and antimony (64% of tested samples), strongly suggesting the presence of brominated flame retardants and antimony trioxide. Most of these beads also contained levels of chlorine consistent with the presence of chlorinated flame retardants.

One-third (33%) of the samples contained over 100 parts per million (ppm) lead, ranging as high as 472 ppm. 100 ppm is the limit allowed in children's products in the United States.

Additional tests done only on the Gasparilla beads found that 12 out of 14 contained a triaryl phosphate chemical, likely a derivative of triphenyl phosphate. These phosphates are used as flame retardants or as plasticizers. 

Chemistry Frequency of Detection Average (ppm) Maximum (ppm)
Antimony >400 ppm 64% 2584 23184
Arsenic >25 ppm 17% 12 102
Bromine >400 ppm 70% 7115 53051
Chlorine >3500 ppm 70% 10063 39597
Lead >100 ppm 33% 86 427

Frequency of Detection of Elements in Bead/Pendant Samples From Mardi Gras/Gasparilla Beads (n=66 components from 56 necklaces)

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These results aren't surprising. The Healthy Stuff Lab has tested Mardi Gras beads in the past. For one of our past studies, we dug deep and verified with third-party research labs that beads with high bromine measured by XRF contained multiple brominated flame retardants. Even PBDEs, which are no longer used in the U.S. due to their toxicity and persistence in our environment, were detected. Details of those analyses are in the paper we published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Environmental Protection in 2016.

Why are toxic chemicals present in so many Mardi Gras-type beads and at such significant levels? The short answer: Electronic waste. E-waste includes plastic housings of devices like computers, phones, and more. Those plastics are infused with flame retardant chemicals. Our prior research found strong evidence that these beads are made from recycled e-waste plastic.

  Sample Name
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Nyx Pink Handbag and Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Bacchus Large Gold Round Beads
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Healthy Stuff item Bacchus Large Purple Cylindrical Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Bacchus Large Silver Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Bacchus Large Silver Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Bacchus Small Gold Cylindrical Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Bacchus Small Gold Cylindrical Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Bacchus Small Green Cylindrical Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Bacchus Small Purple Cylindrical Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Bacchus Small Silver Cylindrical Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Endymion Copper/Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Endymion Copper/Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Endymion Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Endymion Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Endymion Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Endymion Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Endymion Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Endymion Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Endymion Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Endymion Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads blue mixed
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Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads blue round
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads gold disco
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads green disco
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads green round large
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads green round small
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads metallic pink round
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads pink matte round
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads purple round
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads red diamond
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads red hearts
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads red round
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads red skull and bones
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gasparilla beads white round
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gold King Cake Baby
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Gold Round Beads with Large Mixed Color Cleopatra Ornaments
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Green Beads with Funky Fox Pendant
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Green King Cake Baby
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Alla Butterfly Plushy
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Alla Large Pink Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Alla Purple Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Alla Round Gold Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Cleopatra Glasses
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Freret Red Round and Flat Oval Legion of Mars Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Freret Ring
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Freret Yellow Purple Green Chain
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Nyx Eiffel Tower and Mixed Color Beads with Pendant
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Nyx Pink Handbag and Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Nyx Round Pink Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Sparta Fish and Small Silver Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Sparta Green Round and Knights of Sparta Coin Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Sparta Red Mixed Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Thoth Ball
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Thoth Green White Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Thoth Large Pink Beads with Thoth Pendant
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Thoth Small Gold Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Thoth Small Green Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Krewe of Thoth Small Purple Round Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Mardi Gras Football
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Pink King Cake Baby
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Purple King Cake Baby
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Rex Gold Beads with Liza Pendant
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Rex Gold Beads with Maui Pendant
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Rex Gold Beads with Shamash Pendant
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Rex Purple Disco and Gold Crown Beads
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Healthy Stuff item Rex Purple Round and Gold Crown Beads
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Rex Red Beads with Inti Pendant
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Rex Small Green Beads with Gold Coin Pendant
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Rex Vision of the Sun Pendant
Healthy Stuff item
Healthy Stuff item Small Silver King Cake Baby