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Poisonous Purses Turn Into A Dangerous Accessory

MIAMI (CBS4) - They're colorful, stylish, and, according to an environmental watchdog group... dangerous.

The environmental working group tested 300 brightly colored women's purses and wallets, and found 43 of them, or 15% , contain dangerously high levels of lead.

And for kids, it's even worse.

The group says the problem lies in the pigment used to color the purses.

Six were the "worst" offenders. Each of those contained at least 30-times the acceptable level of lead.

This Tori Burch yellow clutch wallet was nearly off the charts... with 200 times the lead limit. It was purchases at upscale retailer Neiman Marcus.

Michael Green, with the Center for Environmental Studies said the items should be on the shelves in the first place.

That's because two years ago, more than 200 stores and manufacturers agreed to stop making and selling women's accessories with unsafe levels of lead.

And until they do, environmental scientists advise sticking with purses made of natural fabrics that don't have dyes.

This study was a follow-up to one done three years ago. The good news is the overall level of lead is down.

The concern is that there are still many on the market at high-end retailers.

Tori Burch says it is investigating and calls the lead concern a top priority.

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