Cages made in China might contain lead!

[Lisa B]

Bee, I would very much appreciate the info you can POST here to calm down the people who have the same A&E cages you do.


Ya can either surf the net and look for info that suits your statements, or, ya can actually run tests and post the outcome.....Bee has ACTUALLY run the tests.

thank you Bee in advance.

[Valo's Moirana]

Let me start out by clearly saying that I only tested MY cage... it's a gray A&E cage that I bought about 6 months ago.
I already stated the results I obtained using instruments available on campus where I'm doing my research. Those results were obtained after agreeing with people who have years and years of experience in chemistry and analytical chemistry, so I'm not planning on justifying the methods I used (which some people, who are here and on other boards expect me to do) - the reason is simple: I trust my own data, and explaining what exactly I did would only make sense if the person has background knowledge. In addition, I'm not generalizing my results - as I said, I tested MY cage, and I fully believe MY results.
According to my tests, the cage I have for Valo is fine. There's nothing I worry about now, in fact I'll get the same one for Nina. However, if you are worried about your cage - don't spend hours and hours arguing where those cages came from, what the manufacturer said etc. If you're worried, get the cage tested - I think the previous post explains the procedure well.

I only have a few more comments:
*) the previous post mentions the DIGESTIVE method, which supposingly is the only right one. Please don't get yourself hung up on this - the digestion is only one step in the procedure, and it's the SAMPLE PREPARATION to make the compound of interest available for analytical testing. If you're not sure, call the lab and ask what exactly they are doing.
*) there is a fundamental difference between paint and powder coating (which is the way of how the material cures, and it affects the overall composition of the surface layer) - the details are well explained on wikipedia. In the end, it's not that crucial, but you know - good if you know what you're actually referring to!
*) Also, please realize that ZERO concentration is something you can't measure. Each and every instrument has a detection limit, and if the concentration is below this limit, you won't get results. Those limits are usually below the health limits if you send your sample off to a lab. Steel, depending on where it's produced, can have up to 3000-5000ppm lead - that's inherent depending on the origin of the steel. It's a natural impurity, if you wanna call it such, which has to be removed, and that process again depends on where the steel is produced. Coating and underlying steel are 2 separate identities. In order to ensure a metal has ZERO lead in it, you'd have to build it atom by atom.
*) And then there's the issue of bio-availability, which pretty much refers to how likely is it that lead impurities, if present, actually end up in the bird's system. But that's a completely different topic, and not for me to discuss (since I'm a chemical engineer).

Bottom line - if you're worried, get your cage tested. But as Lisa said, if you look online for statements to refer to and/or rely on - you can find anything.

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by Valo's Moirana

Let me start out by clearly saying that I only tested MY cage... it's a gray A&E cage that I bought about 6 months ago.


However, if you are worried about your cage - don't spend hours and hours arguing where those cages came from, what the manufacturer said etc. If you're worried, get the cage tested -
.

Thank you Bee!
I appreciate your help, and your knowledge.

[catschair]

It is good to see that we humans are learning caution, but we have to be careful of hysteria. It wasn't too many years ago that we all had to worry about lead paint on our own walls, and we are making remarkable progress there.

Thanks to all for helping to educate us and give us the information we need to have our own testing and make informed decisions.

Kind regards,

[Kevin]

The thing with cages is MOST if not almost ALL cages come from china aremost likely made from the same company or same couple companies supply all the cage companies in all pet markets with just a different design and label on them. I have seen these myself come in by the containers 1 after another containers full of cages, dogs, rodents, etc as its just a bottom line issue for some of these companies... And as it should be till a known issue is raised by the "market" and alters the process and then continues again. Lead is going to be a issue for awhile till companies and hear it from there customers and the wave of complaints heads back from company officials to the chinese import business that its not acceptable and will not buy any more cages till processes are otherwise changed. I am just saying how it is... not how it should be... "The Market" is US, You, Me, and etc forces these companies with our buying power to make their chinese suppliers get with the times and change there product processes.

Again at this stage in the game, caution and education like catschair said is the name of the game at this time.

[Winged_Victory]

Hey guys, the specific brand of the cages made in China is not important! What is important is that people with cages made in China test their cages for lead and test them by the correct method. Please consider the safety of your bird!!

[Lisa B]

A letter to Avian Adventure cages FROM ME:
Subject: Lead Paint in cages manufactured in China



Hello,

I am writing with concerns of the news of cages manufactured in China contain led paint. I have two of the Mediana Cages in Ruby for my beloved African Greys. I also have the matching play center for my disabled little Cag.

The reason I was interested in your products is because I am also a volunteer for the Alex Foundation, and assist Dr Pepperberg with her NJ appearances. I know AA has been a supporter of the foundation, and thus my support of your company in return.

I met the company owner, Carol In Atlantic City at a trade show. I fell in love with the Ruby color there.

I had also contemplated the stainless, however, the production of the stainless in Mediana was halted.

I purchased the cages through a Bird Store that carries the AA line, and praises it.

With that said, I am also a moderator on the internets largest bird site, and the concern of lead in the cages is hitting a panic mode.

Not just on our site, but several. As bird owners, we need to know what to do.

I do know, that when my cages and play stand arrived, they did have China on the cardboard boxes.

Is AA telling its clients to have the lead paint tests done, and if so, how will the issue be corrected if they do indeed contain lead and run a risk to our birds?

I look forward to your reply and will post your comments to any site that I come across that people have Questions about your cage line.

As you can imagine, I also have my birds health to consider, and thought it BEST to go to the company instead of the internet for answers.

Thank you in advance.

Lisa B

Lisa,

I’m always glad when people write to ask this question (and as I’m sure you can imagine, it’s becoming a very common question!), because it is good to know that there are parrot families out there who take this issue seriously, just as we do.

As you may or may not know, Avian Adventures has recently been acquired by MIDWEST Homes for Pets. As both Avian and MIDWEST have been in the pet business for some time, the awareness of the rising concern over lead and other potentially dangerous substances in the paint was something we have been acutely sensitive to (and as a bird cage manufacturer for over a decade, we at Avian have always been conscious of the ricks of lead and zinc in paint and have maintained standards for our materials which exceed industry standards).

With this in mind, MIDWEST sent off samples of the Avian products to their US-based testing facility immediately after the transfer of inventory was completed so there would be accurate, current test results of stock which has just arrived from our China factory. Samples of all current colors were sent (we have sapphire, ruby, emerald, platinum, white and black). I am pleased to inform you that the results came back with no detectable levels of lead. They are awaiting the zinc results before releasing the final results. I will add you to my list of people waiting for the formal toxicology announcements, however, and email you a copy as soon as that is available (I anticipate that within the next two weeks.)

Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. My direct phone line is ************* if you’d prefer to call. I transferred to MIDWEST with the acquisition, so I do have some history with these cages. J

Kind regards,

~Sarah Klein,

Sarah,

Thank you for your quick response. Do I have your permission to post what you wrote on the bird forums about AA cages?

(with the exception of your phone number of course!)

If I do get slack as people might say its hearsay, is there any way I could have a copy of the results to quiet them before they are able to do damage on the net?
Thank you,
Lisa B


Lisa,

Absolutely, you can post my reply! I stand behind these cages, and I want people to know they can trust our cages, and know that we are committed to the well-being of the birds who live in them! (You can give them our 800# which is on the web anyway… ( 800-428-8560)

I will get you the results as soon as I get them myself. Believe me, I have been asking QC *daily* if the final results are in. ;)

Have a great evening!

~Sarah Klein

[Lisa B]

I will also have the info from the A&E line shortly to post from the company attorney, and actual test results from several cages in their cage line.

[Lisa B]

Kings was not, unless done recently, made in the USA.

Most if not all with the exception of FREEDOM CAGES are made OVER SEAS. And, they even had help from Germany, If I am not mistaken. I can ask the owner since I have a board meeting with him this week.

Old California Cage Company cages were made here in the US. Not sure if they still are, since its been over a decade and a half since I had them build a custom cage for me.

.

[amazing_parrots]

Thank you everyone involved in bringing this to our attention and giving us the resources possible to take action about this alarming situation.

It's still a bit confusing about the proper testing. Bee, are you conflicting with Larry's lab testing and results? Trying to understand your indepth post about different stages of testing and so forth.

And, with this bringing light about such harmful toxins in (some) cages, doesn't that constitute a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT against a specific manufacturer if they are found to not be in U.S. Compliance of allowable lead? Seems to me that if I bought a cage that killed my bird through lab results of the Necropsy and cage analysis, shouldn't they be held liable?? If a child was killed as a result of manufacture defect and can be sued and have a nationwide recall of that product.....why can't this be the case with this product???

Now one more question.....Larry.
If you send off those samples of each cage in our home, is there a $50 charge for each cage tested?

You also mention having a right to take that product back, does it state how long after purchase this pertains??

Seems to me if there are cages in our homes and for sale that are indeed laced with lead & zinc, why don't we all (as bird owners) petition these companies demanding CHANGE!