Attractions, other sites at Disneyland expose visitors to lead, group says

Dozens of leaded-glass windows and brass rail chains, door knobs and drinking water fountains at some of Disneyland’s most popular attractions expose children to high levels of lead, according to an environmental group seeking a court injunction Tuesday to require the amusement park to cover the items or post health warnings.

The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court in April against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. Inc., alleging excessive levels of lead in such commonly touched objects as the Sword in Stone attraction, where Disneyland photographers encourage children to pose while pulling on the sword handle. Other objects include brass door knobs at Minnie’s House and stained-glass windows in a door at the entrance to a beauty salon in Cinderella’s Castle.

“We are asking the court to force Disney to take steps that should have been taken when we first told them that children at Disneyland are in danger of illegal lead exposures,” Mateel President William Verick said in a statement.

In court documents, Disney rejected the allegations in the lawsuit and maintained that it had posted adequate warnings about lead-tainted fixtures and figurines, as required by state law.

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-- Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times

Photo: The Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation said it found lead exposure of 350 micrograms from the stained-glass Pinocchio window at Disneyland. Credit: Christopher Crow, Mateel Environmental Justice Foundation.