Are light-up sneakers a bright idea? It depends.
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Two older styles made by LA Gear - My Li'l Lights and LA Lights - may contain mercury. The mercury was used to make the sneakers flash. There's not enough mercury to be harmful to people, but it could be harmful to the environment if the shoes end up in a landfill. (Mercury can leak out and pollute water supplies.)LA Gear has taken steps to fix the problem. The company now uses an environmentally safe substitute for mercury. But if you have an old pair of sneakers ready for the garbage, call LA Gear (1-800-786-7820) to find out how to send them back for recycling.