Hazardous Products Sold at Dollar Stores

Dollar stores can often be tempting. They offer a variety of items, from household goods to party supplies, at extremely discounted prices, and it can be especially enticing to those who are on tighter budgets and are trying to pinch pennies. But while these items may come at a lower cost, they have the potential to do more damage in the long run. Saving on potentially dangerous items may not be worth what you save at the register. You may want to think twice before purchasing these hazardous products sold at dollar stores.

To compile a list of hazardous products sold at dollar stores, 24/7 Tempo reviewed "Toxic Chemicals in Dollar Store Products: 2022 Report," published by the Campaign for Healthier Solutions, a project of the Environmental Justice Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform and Coming Clean, Inc. that asks dollar stores to phase out hazardous chemicals from the things they sell. (To see other concerns, these are the most contaminated foods you can buy at the grocery store.)

Researchers tested more than 200 products – including consumer goods and microwave popcorn containers – bought in Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, New Mexico, Washington, Maine, Texas, and Ontario (Canada) for what they call "chemicals of concern," substances which, "due to their inherent hazardous properties," according to the Campaign for Healthier Solutions, "present a known or reasonably suspected risk to human health and/or the environment." (These, however, are things you should always buy at a dollar store.)

Here are hazardous products sold at dollar stores.

• Retailer: Five Below
• Brand/distributor: Townley
• Chemicals of concern: PVC components (>50% chlorine); ortho-phthalate plasticizer
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune system damage, and hormone disruption; asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, breast cancer, obesity, type II diabetes, low IQ, neurodevelopmental issues, behavioral issues, autism spectrum disorders, altered reproductive development, male fertility issues

• Retailer: Five Below
• Brand/distributor: Traxx, 1616 Holdings, Inc.
• Chemicals of concern: Ortho-phthalate plasticizer
• Potential side effects: Increased risk of learning, attention, and behavioral disorders in children, asthma, low birth weight, endometriosis, ADHD, Type 2 diabetes, and breast and uterine cancer

• Retailer: Five Below
• Brand/distributor: Disney, 1616 Holdings, Inc.
• Chemicals of concern: TDCIPP (chlorinated tris) flame retardant in earphone foam, 65.6% (656,000 ppm) lead in solder
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune system damage, hormone disruption; damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavioral difficulties, headaches, and hearing problems in children

• Retailer: Five Below
• Brand/distributor: 1616 Holdings, Inc
• Chemicals of concern: PVC components (>50% chlorine), trichlorophenyl phosphate (TCPP) flame retardant, 38% (381,869 ppm) lead in solder
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune system damage, hormone disruption; damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavioral difficulties, headaches, and hearing problems in children

• Retailer: Five Below
• Brand/distributor: Sakar
• Chemicals of concern: PVC components (>50% chlorine), ortho-phthalate plasticizer, trichlorophenyl phosphate (TCPP) flame retardant, 61% (612,081 ppm) lead in solder
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune system damage, hormone disruption; damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavioral difficulties, headaches, and hearing problems in children

• Retailer: Five Below
• Brand/distributor: Xtreme Tech, JemAccessories
• Chemicals of concern: Ortho-phthalate plasticizer, 45.6% (456,455 ppm) lead in solder
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune system damage, hormone disruption; damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavioral difficulties, headaches, and hearing problems in children

• Retailer: Five Below
• Brand/distributor: Campbell's
• Chemicals of concern: PVC copolymer can coating
• Potential side effects: Angiosarcoma, liver cancer, liver disease, brain cancer, Raynaud's syndrome, and acro-osteolysis

• Retailer: Five Below, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, Dollar General, 99 Cents Only Stores
• Brand/distributor: N/A
• Chemicals of concern: All receipts tested positive for Bisphenol S
• Potential side effects: Hormone disruption

• Retailer: Dollar Tree
• Brand/distributor: Cooking Concepts
• Chemicals of concern: BPA-based epoxy-based non-stick coating
• Potential side effects: Hormone disruption, increased cancer susceptibility, abnormalities in brain development and fat metabolism in children

• Retailer: Dollar Tree
• Brand/distributor: Cooking Concepts
• Chemicals of concern: BPA-based epoxy-based non-stick coating
• Potential side effects: Hormone disruption, increased cancer susceptibility, abnormalities in brain development and fat metabolism in children

• Retailer: Family Dollar
• Brand/distributor: Family Chef
• Chemicals of concern: PTFE (PFAS) based nonstick coating
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune and reproductive system issues, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, asthma

• Retailer: Dollar Tree
• Brand/distributor: Joking Around, Green-brier International, Inc.
• Chemicals of concern: PVC components (>50% chlorine), DOTP plasticizer
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune system damage, hormone disruption (endocrinal, and reproductive issues)

• Retailer: Dollar Tree
• Brand/distributor: Kidgets, Midwood Brands, LLC
• Chemicals of concern: 17.4% (174,000 ppm) lead in solder
• Potential side effects: Abdominal pain, memory loss, digestive problems, fatigue, headaches, irritability

• Retailer: Family Dollar
• Brand/distributor: Vivitar, Skar International
• Chemicals of concern: 2.2% lead (22,000 ppm) in solder; PVC cable insulation and coated fabrics with DOTP plasticizers
• Potential side effects: Abdominal pain, memory loss, digestive problems, fatigue, headaches, irritability, cancer, immune system damage

• Retailer: Dollar Tree
• Brand/distributor: Greenbrier International
• Chemicals of concern: PVC components (>50% chlorine), Phthalate and DOTP plasticizers
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune system damage, hormone disruption (endocrinal, and reproductive issues)

• Retailer: Dollar Tree
• Brand/distributor: E-circuit, Greenbrier International, Inc.
• Chemicals of concern: PVC components (>50% chlorine), DOTP plasticizer, 14.1% (141,000 ppm) lead in solder
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune system damage, hormone disruption, abdominal pain, memory loss, digestive problems, headaches

• Retailer: Dollar Tree
• Brand/distributor: Pop Weaver
• Chemicals of concern: 353 ppm Total Fluorine (PFAS grease-proof coating present)
• Potential side effects: Can affect bone development in children and affect the kidneys and thyroid

• Retailer: Dollar Tree
• Brand/distributor: Dolly
• Chemicals of concern: BPA-based epoxy
• Potential side effects: Can affect the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children, Increase blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease

• Retailer: Dollar Tree
• Brand/distributor: Deerfield
• Chemicals of concern: BPA-based epoxy
• Potential side effects: Can affect the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children, Increase blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease

• Retailer: Dollar General
• Brand/distributor:
• Chemicals of concern: 625 PPM Total Fluorine (PFAS grease-proof coating present)
• Potential side effects: Damage to the liver and the immune system

• Retailer: Dollar General
• Brand/distributor:
• Chemicals of concern: PTFE (PFAS fluoropolymer) + PES (polyethersulfone)
• Potential side effects: Increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer, respiratory illnesses, liver damage

• Retailer: Dollar General
• Brand/distributor:
• Chemicals of concern: PVC (>50% chlorine), DOTP plasticizer
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune system damage, hormone disruption

• Retailer: Dollar General
• Brand/distributor: Clover Valley, Old East Main Co.
• Chemicals of concern: PVC copolymer coating on the interior of the can
• Potential side effects: Hormonal imbalances, respiratory health effects, and in extreme cases, cancer

• Retailer: Dollar General
• Brand/distributor:
• Chemicals of concern: BPA-based Epoxy Coating
• Potential side effects: Increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

• Retailer: 99 Cents Only Stores
• Brand/distributor: Momentum Brands
• Chemicals of concern: PVC components (>50% chlorine), ortho-phthalate plasticizer, 18.3% (183,000 ppm) lead in solder
• Potential side effects: Cancer, immune system damage, hormone disruption; damage to the brain and nervous system, learning and behavioral difficulties, headaches, and hearing problems in children

• Retailer: 99 Cents Only Stores
• Brand/distributor: Act II
• Chemicals of concern: 473 ppm total fluorine (PFAS grease-proof coating present)
• Potential side effects: Linked to the development of inflammation and cancer

• Retailer: 99 Cents Only Stores (all 371 locations have since closed)
• Brand/distributor: Summer is Inside
• Chemicals of concern: PVC copolymer can coating
• Potential side effects: Hormonal imbalances, respiratory health effects, and in extreme cases, cancer

• Retailer: 99 Cents Only Stores
• Brand/distributor: MW Polar Foods
• Chemicals of concern: BPA-based epoxy can coating
• Potential side effects: Increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

• Retailer: 99 Cents Only Stores
• Brand/distributor: Libby's
• Chemicals of concern: PVC copolymer can coating
• Potential side effects: Hormonal imbalances, respiratory health effects, and in extreme cases, cancer