FYI - it is almost certainly shedding lead contaminated dust. Near every artificial tree is a toxic waste hazard. The only exception are trees made of polyethylene. The reason manufacturers don't use polyethylene is it's approximately twice as expensive and harder to work with. Purchasing a non-toxic tree for our household cost us $1300 last year. We tried using natural trees for two years in a row after finding out our old artificial tree was heavily lead contaminated, but the natural tree experience did not go well. The Only source of polyethylene trees of an affordable nature is IKEA they are like Charlie brown skinny trees though..