For millions of Americans, the local dollar store is a necessary part of their financial budget. The low-priced items are a way for families to afford necessities, from school lunches, to health care, and they're even sometimes the difference between having milk in the refrigerator or not. But with the low price of these items, there comes a price. Recent studies show that many people wind up purchasing toxic dollar store items without even realizing how bad these items could be for their family. A 2015 study from EcoCenter.org found that of 164 items tested, 81 percent (or 133 of the items) contained at least one hazardous chemical above acceptable levels. These are some of the most popular toxic dollar store items that you should avoid from now on.

These little accessories to keep you from slipping in the bathroom can do some unseen harm if you're not careful. The chemicals used to make them contain high levels of chlorine as well as phthalates, which you'll see can be extremely harmful to anybody who comes into constant contact with them. This particular brand is found at Family Dollar stores. The price isn't worth it for these items.

The metallic Christmas garlands that everybody loves may be hiding a dark secret. These have tested high for bromine, meaning they may be made with recycled plastics, which contain brominated flame retardants or BFRs. For adults, BFRs can seep into dust (which we inhale) and are linked to thyroid problems and memory impairment. As an alternative, clear and translucent plastics don't contain the recycled plastics. Also, see-through garland and paper varieties are your best bet.

Yes, jewelry can be expensive, but when the alternative can cause numerous health issues, it's better to shell out some additional dough for the jewelry instead of shelling out thousands for medical bills. These earring sets, which can be found at Family Dollar, contain high levels of chlorine and lead. The likely prolonged exposure to skin make them especially dangerous for consumers.

Cheaply-made dollar store electronics items such as extension cords, USB charging cords, and cellphone charger cables test high for chlorine, meaning these items are likely made with PVC plastic, or polyvinyl chloride. This type of chloride is a cancer-causing chemical that has been known to harm humans who work at the plants where they are made, as well as contaminating the communities close to the factories. It's best to find these items at regular electronics stores instead.

According to research, those vinyl bathroom and floor mats have tested high in both phthalates and bromine, both of which are said to cause numerous health and developmental concerns. The Ecology Center recommends avoiding these cheap dollar store items with "vinyl" in the name.

Some of the items on this list aren't necessarily things that people are in contact with for long stretches of time, but these types of headbands are especially dangerous just for that reason. With high levels of chlorine and phthalates, the exposure risk for these plastic headbands is extremely high.

Kitchen utensils you find at dollar stores may contain high levels of bromine, a component of brominated flame retardants (BFRs). BFRs are added to make the utensils fire resistant, but have been linked to cancer, birth defects, and impaired brain development. BFRs have mostly been banned in the U.S., but can still sneak around regulations if the supplier is using inexpensive recycled plastics that can be contaminated with BFRs.

Like other kids products in this list, these types of pencil pouches (think the ones with glitter that many kids take to school all year long) contain high levels of chlorine and phthalates. These toxins can contribute to allergy and asthma problems, as well as having links to cancer and thyroid ailments.

Nobody wants scratches or stains on their table, but when the alternative is developmental problems for children, there's no substitute. The flannel-backed tablecloths really make the picnic, but they've been known to contain high levels of lead, which for children and fetuses can reduce IQ and case behavioral problems. Vinyl tablecloths aren't much better, as they contain vinyl chloride. Your best bet? Buy a reusable, washable cloth table cover.

In order to make some harder plastics softer, companies will add phthalates, including DEHP. Phthalates (pronounced "thal-ates") can interfere with our endocrine system, and phthalate exposure has been linked to asthma and allergies, prostate and testicular cancer, as well as Type 2 diabetes. Some phthalates have been restricted in children's products, including DEHP, but since silly straws are not necessarily considered just for kids, they can legally contain high levels of DEHP.

Nope, not even Christmas lights can escape the health warnings on this list. The string lights may contain toxic dust of bromine and chlorine, both linked to cancer and thyroid problems. Your best defense is to make sure the products are labelled "Restriction of Hazardous Substances"-compliant, which limits toxic substances in electronics.

Is your spider-sense, or should we say, parent-sense tingling!? These novelty military dog tags have been found to contain high levels of bromine, chlorine, and lead, as well as moderate levels of antimony and tin. These toxins can cause developmental problems for fetuses or small children.

The custom grip steering wheel covers found in many dollar stores contain high levels of cancer-causing chlorine as well as numerous phthalates, including DEHP, DIBP, and DINP, which are linked to asthma, allergies, cancers, and diabetes. Steer far away from these at the dollar store.

Those little window clings (and those large removable wall stickers of favorite sports stars) tend to contain high levels of PVC, which some researchers say is among the most hazardous of plastic materials. You definitely do not want your young kids interacting with these things on a regular basis.

They are generally used for just a short time around Mardi Gras, but the plastic celebration beads tested high for bromine, meaning they likely contain high levels of recycled plastic. That means they probably have high levels of flame retardants and lead, linked to numerous health concerns. SHARE this article with anybody who shops at dollar stores so they too know what to avoid.