Do all mini-blinds contain lead?
No, only vinyl mini-blinds imported from Mexico and Asia. Aluminum blinds have not been known to have lead.

How can you get poisoned from these blinds?
By chewing on the blinds, or by touching the lead dust accumulated on the blinds, then touching your contaminated hand to your mouth.

How does lead dust get on the blinds?
Through prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, the blinds deteriorate and the lead is released (leeches out) in tiny particles.

How can I tell if mine are vinyl or aluminum?
Scrape the blinds with a knife and if the paint comes off, they're metal. If the mark remains the same color, it's probably vinyl. Or, tap the blinds with a metal object such as a knife and listen to the sound. Third, the slats can be inspected at their edges-if the color is the same as the top and bottom of the slat it probably is vinyl. If the color is bright aluminum it is not vinyl. Fourth, the brackets holding the blind are usually easily determined to be either vinyl or metal.