Published: March 7, 2022 – Monday
Last month (just about a week ago actually!), after I published the post discussing the concern for industrial-quality (commercial-grade) electrical tape being used to mark children’s martial arts belts (link here), I heard back from so many parents with more information about this problem… I learned that not only is dangerously-toxic electrical tape being used to mark children’s martial arts belts, but it is also being used for the following applications (which should all be illegal):
- Marking children’s personal items at daycare (for infants and toddlers, to color code their possessions)
- Marking the floors in gymnastics studios (marking places on gymnastics mats)
- Taping up children’s dance shoes
- As a material in art projects
It seemed also that people (who may have read my very in-depth article a little too quickly) didn’t seem to understand that the fact that while some of this tape is marked as “Lead Free” that does not make it safe for children. When this type of (commercial vinyl electrical) tape may be Lead-Free (or more likely, “low-Lead”) that never means that it is safe for children to use! It is still a commercial/industrial product — and is normally only marked “Lead-free” as a marketing strategy [within an industrial context]! In the cases where this product is in fact “Lead-free” (aka low-Lead, none has tested completely negative for Lead yet) — in every single case I have seen (every example I have tested to date) — the absent Lead has been replaced with high levels of Antimony — which is itself also incredibly toxic; known to cause cancer; and definitely not safe for children.
For “fun” [in a manner of speaking — as a curious, very-thorough investigative journalist (if I do say so myself!) ;-)], I followed-up the original post on this subject by purchasing several different additional types of commercial electrical tape — from different brands, featuring different claims on their respective packaging – including an example sold as “Lead-Free”. Please stand by for more reporting on those tapes — including the heavy metals content readings (via XRF testing) for each type / color and brand of tape.
Upon reading the original post, one of my Instagram followers then alerted me to the existence of The Martial Arts Supermarket – a vendor of all things related to martial arts – including this type of tape which is specifically sold for use by martial arts instructors. I was really excited to test some tape “direct from the source”, so I purchased two (incredibly overpriced) rolls from them (red, and blue). Please read more about this vendor on the image below (and please continue reading below the image.)
The Martial Arts Supermarket is “one of the largest martial arts supply companies in the USA and has been serving martial arts enthusiasts for over 26 years.”
Belt Stripe Tape purchased from The Martial Arts Supermarket
Purchased February 28, 2022
When this tape arrived from The Martial Arts Supermarket (yesterday!), I was struck by one glaring fact, primarily: the package has “WARNING:Cancer“ clearly marked on the plastic carrying case for each roll of tape (see the images at the top of this article and below) — yet this was also clearly marketed/sold by The Martial Arts Supermarket as tape for teachers to use to mark their students’ belts!
Interestingly, the package also claims that the product is “FLAME RETARDANT, LEAD FREE” — which clearly would be interpreted by most people to mean that it is BOTH “Flame retardant-free” AND “Lead-free”…however, a close inspection of this odd syntax suggests that it may be intentionally ambiguous – arguably implying that they are legally ONLY claiming that it is “LEAD-flame-retardant-free” [when, in reality, Antimony has virtually universally replaced Lead as the sole metal in current use as a flame retardant in PVC products!]; the Spanish syntax also separately-yet-ambiguously claims the absence of “flame retardant” and “Lead” — stating:
“SAN PLOMB/RETARDENT DE LLAMAS” [“WITHOUT LEAD/FLAME RETARDANT”], and then additionally that it is “LIBRE DE PLOMB” [“LEAD FREE”] — neither of which claims is, in reality, true.
I then tested this tape using XRF technology (both the red and blue tapes, pictured in this article) and not only did they each test positive for [low levels of] Lead AND Arsenic (as I fully expected), but they also tested positive for very high levels of Antimony (which causes cancer) — the red tape tested positive for Antimony at 14,600 ppm and the blue tape tested positive for Antimony at 15,800 ppm.
Important relevant context
- While not exactly “Lead-free” the Lead level found in these tapes is relatively low (for context, anything under 90 ppm in the coating of an item intended for use by children is considered safe and legal). This is NOT an item intended for use by children however, so to consider the Lead level alone as a factor in determining safety is not useful nor appropriate.
- Antimony, however is the primary metal found in intentionally-applied flame retardant chemical mixtures — especially at the very-high levels found in this tape.
- Consequently. I believe the “FLAME RETARDENT FREE” wording on the packaging amounts to false advertising (I have contacted a friend who is an executive with 3M to follow up about this, and I will report back here if we end up chatting about the issue.)
- For context, Antimony is considered toxic (and illegal in the State of California) in bedding intended for use by children at levels of 1,000 ppm and above. In bedding, levels of 1,000 ppm Antimony (and higher) are indicative that flame retardant chemicals have been intentionally added to the mattress/couch/pillow, etc.
Please scroll down to see the warning labels and other identifying information for each roll of tape – as well as the full XRF readings for all of the metals found in each of these two colors of tape.
Takeway:
- Stop buying this tape from The Martial Arts Supermarket.
- Stop buying this type of tape (commercial vinyl electrical tape) for any use by children, period.
- If you are a customer at The Martial Arts Supermarket PLEASE let them know that they need to clearly mark that this product is “NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY CHILDREN” (on their website).
- Even better: If you are a customer at The Martial Arts Supermarket PLEASE ask them to stop selling these products (all colors).
- Please alert your martial arts teacher, your child’s dance teacher, your child’s gymnastics teacher, your child’s daycare center, your child’s art teacher – etc. – that this sort of tape should not be used in ANY APPLICATIONS where a child can interact with it (ever.)
Continue reading below the image.
XRF test results for blue 3M Scotch Vinyl Electrical Tape
(Marked 2019)
60-second reading – Blue Tape
- Lead (Pb): 23 +/- 4 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Bromine (Br): 3 +/- 2 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 336 +/- 66 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 287 +/- 41 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 385 +/- 21 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 393 +/- 16 ppm
- Arsenic (As): 59 +/- 6 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 320 +/- 9 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): 15,800 +/- 100 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 1,053 +/- 37 ppm
- Chlorine (Cl): 360,000 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 7 +/- 4 ppm
- No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.
Continue reading below the image.
XRF test results for red 3M Scotch Vinyl Electrical Tape
(Marked 2022)
60-second reading
- Lead (Pb): 32 +/- 4 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): non-detect
- Mercury (Hg): non-detect
- Bromine (Br): 5 +/- 2 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 348 +/- 63 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 705 +/- 302 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 272 +/- 39 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 290 +/- 14 ppm
- Arsenic (As): 59 +/- 6 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 2,704 +/- 687 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 303 +/- 9 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): 14,600 +/- 100 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 402 +/- 31 ppm
- Chlorine (Cl): 360,000 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 7 +/- 4 ppm
- No other metals detected in consumer goods mode.
For those new to this website:
Tamara Rubin is a Federal-award-winning independent advocate for consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. Tamara’s sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in August of 2005. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. Tamara uses XRF testing (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals), including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic. All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times, to confirm the test results for each component tested. Please click through to this link to learn more about the testing methodology used for the test results discussed and reported on this website.
I am hoping you will be able to find a tape that would replace this for marking kids belts for martial arts. Hoping that is shown soon. Hopefully some martial arts parents or even better martial arts teachers will submit other brands of belt tape to you for analysis. Thank you so much.
Hi Eileen,
This post has several safe suggestions:
https://tamararubin.com/2022/02/marking-martial-arts-belts-with-electrical-tape-is-unsafe-for-kids-the-tape-can-have-high-levels-of-lead-antimony/
Tamara
Thank you for the quick reply!
YW!
This is so odd to begin with because we grew up practicing tae kwon do, and always received new cotton belts after each testing period…striped belts were always new as well. Didn’t know belt tape was even a thing! And, when tying your own belt you will most certainly be in high contact with the ends. Especially little kids who have to practicing tying their own belts many times. I feel like sewing a small colored cotton stripe onto the ends would be so much more durable, better for the environment, and safer in this case!