article_snippet.sent: You might think that you’re saving yourself some smart dollars by opting for the cheaper alternatives of everyday household items sold at two dollar stores but an environmental specialist has warned that you could actually be making your family sick.
article_snippet.sent: From bargain bath mats and kitchen utensils to fun knick-knacks like silly straws and children’s stick-on jewellery, hundreds of products sold at discount retailers have been found to contain toxic levels of harmful metals, plastics and chemicals that have been linked to cancers and diseases.
article_snippet.sent: A recent study of four major discount retailers  in the United States by the Ecology Centre found that 133 out of 164 products tested, including children's jewellery, floor mats, kitchen utensils and silly straws, contained at least one hazardous chemical 'above levels of concern'.
article_snippet.sent: From bargain bath mats and kitchen utensils to fun knick-knacks like silly straws and children’s stick-on jewellery, hundreds of products sold at discount retailers have been found to contain toxic levels of harmful metals, plastics and chemicals that have been linked to cancers and diseases (stock picture)
article_snippet.sent: Australian author and CEO of the Australian College of Environmental Studies, Nicole Bijlsma, told Daily Mail Australia that an investigation into products sold at Australian two dollar stores could produce similar results.
article_snippet.sent: Based on the amount of products that have been recalled over the years and studies which have found the levels of industrial chemicals are rising in younger generations, there's definitely a history to indicate that they [products at discount stores] could contain chemicals that cause adverse health affect,' the Australian College of Environmental Studies Nicole Bijlsma said. '
article_snippet.sent: She said that a recent study of four major discount retailers in the United States, which found 133 out of 164 products tested contained at least one hazardous chemical 'above levels of concern', would find similar results in Australia .
article_snippet.sent: Ms Bijlsma, a building biologist, who assess people's homes - including measuring chemicals in their water, air, building materials and household products - to see what's making their sick, said that while discount stores were the focus of negative attention, harmful chemicals can be found in any product which is manufactured outside of Australia. '
highlights_snippet.sent: Over 100 items including children's jewellery, floor mats, kitchen utensils and silly straws contained either harmful plastics, metals or chemicals .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: A study of four discount retailers in the US found 81% of the products tested contained at least one hazardous chemical 'above levels of concern'
  CEO of Australian College of Environmental Studies, Nicole Bijlsma, said the ACCC's active chemical inspection program was 'not good enough' 