Trick or treat? Your child may be wearing a toxic Halloween costume

A spooky study published on healthystuff.org Thursday finds many Halloween costumes are exposing children to toxic chemicals.

The study from the left-leaning Ecology Center found high levels of toxic chemicals in dozens of popular Halloween costumes for children who dress up like pirates, Spiderman, Batman, Ironman, the Incredible Hulk or Cinderella.

Toxic chemicals were also found in hanging skeletons and orange pumpkin lights.

“We found that seasonal products, like thousands of other products we have tested, are full of dangerous chemicals,” said Jeff Gearhart, research director of healthystuff.org, which is run by the Ecology Center. “Poorly regulated toxic chemicals consistently show up in seasonal products. Hazardous chemicals in consumer products pose unnecessary and avoidable health hazards to children, consumers, communities, workers and our environment.”

The Ecology Center tested more than 100 Halloween costumes and party supplies found at popular retail stores and shopping centers around the country.

They found toxic chemicals, such as lead, flame retardants, tin compounds and phthalates.

These toxins have been linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems and cancer.