Cheap Chinese jewelry contains a substance more harmful than lead
Cheap metal jewelry imported from China may contain high levels of cadmium, a heavy metal that’s more toxic then lead, and should be kept away from young children, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The warning comes after an Associated Press investigation tested cadmium levels in 103 pieces of jewelry from major chains like Wal Mart. Twelve items contained at least 10 per cent cadmium, and several were almost entirely made of the heavy metal. It’s believed that cadmium is starting to replace lead in toys as a result of tighter U.S. Regulations on lead content that were put in place after a toddler died in 2006 from swallowing a toxic charm. “Now we hear about cadmium in jewelry. This is unacceptable,” said Inez Tenenbaum, head of the CPSC. Health Canada has run similar tests on children’s toys, but has so far refused to publicly release it’s findings.