Trace quantities of lead have been discovered in poker chips, leading 21 card clubs in California to be required to put up notices informing punters of the potential hazards.
The erection of signs is the result of a lawsuit filed by watchdog organisation, the Centre for Environmental Health, against poker chip manufacturer Gaming Partners International (GPI), reports the Las Vegas Sun.
Despite a maximum of 0.005 per cent of the substance being allowed, the fact that lead is linked to cancer and birth defects means that under Proposition 65, companies must notify consumers of the presence of hazardous substances on the premises.
John Allen, the attorney representing GPI, stated that while the lawsuit was an "unpleasant experience", he respected the efforts of the non-profit organisation to draw attention to the potential dangers.
GPI produces poker chips for 28 of the 30 largest casinos in the US, making it the market leader, according to the firm's website.
Trace quantities of lead have been discovered in poker chips, leading 21 card clubs in California to be required to put up notices informing punters of the potential hazards.