Special Report: Taking a Gamble

Wes Baldwin, poker player
"Friday nights or whenever we can get a game together"

Chris Savio, poker player
"I try to play pretty regularly."

But when all your chips are on the table, the stakes may be higher than you think.

Wes Baldwin, poker player
"I was actually really shocked to find out poker chips have lead in them"

7News bought four different kinds of clay poker chips online. We had them tested for lead, and our results may make you want to fold 'em!

All four came back positive for lead. Three showed low levels, but the fourth brand had much higher lead levels.

Steven Chase, Proscience Analytical Services
"...Significant amounts of lead. Certainly they should not be in a home."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission does not have a set standard for lead in poker chips, but to put our results in perspective...Lead levels in paint should be no higher than 600 parts per million. The first three brands of chips we tested were well below that...Between 200 and 300 parts per million. But the fourth brand came back with levels well in the thousands, with one chip testing a frightening 25,000 parts per million.

Leon Bethune, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Director of Environmental Health

"I would be very concerned if you have these poker chips in your home. There is a potential for lead poisoning with these chips."

Alan Woolf, MD, Children's Hospital Boston, Director of Environmental Medicine

"In handling any object that has lead content in it, you don't know how much is available to rub off on your hands."

And because of their bright color, Dr. Alan Woolf of Boston's Children's Hospital says these chips can be tempting to little kids.

Alan Woolf, MD, Children's Hospital Boston, Director of Environmental Medicine

"They're going to put them in their mouth.  When they're in their mouth and they're sucking on them, then they can leach some of the lead out of that product, at least potentially, to create a hazard."

We contacted the company that makes the chips with the highest levels of lead, and they say their chips are safe.

Laura McAllister Cox, Gaming Partners International, chief legal and gaming compliance officer
"Our scientific evidence is that there was no health risk posed by them."

And the company says it's been working to get the lead out.

Laura McAllister Cox, Gaming Partners International, chief legal and gaming compliance officer
"The lead levels in the composition of the chips has been reduced substantially over time."

To be safe, experts recommend you wash your hands after using the chips. Don't eat with your hands while playing with the chips and store the chips where children and pets can't get them.

Wes Baldwin, poker player
"I have a dog at home and he gets into all sorts of stuff...I definitely don't want him chewing on something with lead in it."

Chris Savio, poker player
"Now that I know about it, I would probably try to have as little contact with them as possible."

Something to consider the next time you decide whether to hold them or fold them. 

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