Legislation in the US state of New Jersey legislation now limits the use of heavy metals in glass beads for highway markings. New Jersey has joined Louisiana and North Carolina in with a law limiting the levels of arsenic and lead in glass bead products used for highway safety markings. The law prohibits the manufacture or sale of reflective glass beads with high arsenic content and prohibits the state's Department of Transportation and state's toll road authorities from using paint mixed with reflective glass beads for roadway markings. Meanwhile, a total of 22 other states have adopted bid specification requirements which also prohibit use of heavy metals in glass beads. The American Glass Bead Manufacturers' Association has applauded the move, which will end the sale of cheap, low-quality glass beads made from recycled glass contaminated with heavy metals. There is widespread concern that water run-off from roads using these beads will be contaminated and cause subsequent environmental problems. The legislation was impacted by the findings of the New Jersey Institute of Technology/Rowan University study, funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. That study revealed that a growing number of imported glass bead products for highway markings exhibit high concentrations of heavy metals, including arsenic and lead.
