Some time ago, I purchased a General Electric mouse from Home Depot that was on a special display and was being sold very cheap. I didn't open the package for many months, but when I did, there was a surprise hiding inside.

I found a tag attached to the end of the PS/2 cable containing the following message:

"Warning: This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling."

(emphasis NOT mine)

I ended up using the mouse for short while when I found myself in a pinch, but afterward I threw it in the garbage. It's pretty inconvenient to wash your hands every time you use your mouse, especially if you're a computer programmer. Hmmm... But what happens during the time you're actually using the mouse?

Just a note to keep your eyes open because it seems that the State of California knows things that many other States don't.


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It's probably the flexible plastic cord that contained poisonous plastics. The Ipod earphone cords are poisonous too. my daughter uses hers all day long. i've told her it's poisonous, some nasty plastic i forget the name, that she shouldn't be handling it, rubbing it between her fingers etc. But I'd be a real big meany mom if I took it away from her.

we all grew up with those real poisonous soft plastics all around us Russ. they've just started labeling them the past few years. You probably have lots of other similar stuff in your house that simply wasn't labeled.

I probably just would have sprayed the mouse with a clear acrylic (which probably contains lead too). Lead is actually pretty common in plastics. And considering that so much of the plastics in the world are actually made in China these days that shouldn't be surprising.