Cadmium Found in Children's Jewelry. TOXIC

[shawnandangel]

Here is the article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100110/ap_on_he_me/us_cadmium_jewelry

"Cadmium is a known carcinogen. Like lead, it can hinder brain development in the very young, according to recent research"

""There's nothing positive that you can say about this metal. It's a poison," said Bruce A. Fowler, a cadmium specialist and toxicologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On the CDC's priority list of 275 most hazardous substances in the environment, cadmium ranks No. 7."


Ugh, I am so disgusted but not suprised. Who was the genius who thought of banning lead but not other more dangerous things? Seriously. Why isn't this stuff already banned?

[MamaMolly]

Good heavens! What is next? Jewelry made from plutonium??? This is nuts. How did this stuff get through Customs anyway? Isn't cadmium radioactive??

I'm thinking that we'll be getting only 'good' jewelry for the DDs. Less is more anyway.

[DrSally]

OMG! Crazy that some items were 90% cadmium! I've very suspicious of all children's jewlery, esp. the stuff at Claire's, etc. I suppose I'll have to deal with it more when DD gets older and wants to wear some of that costume jewlery.

[salsah]

scary! i just bought a necklace and bracelet from gymbo for dd1, i wonder if i should return it, just to be safe.

[Penny's Pappa]

""There's nothing positive that you can say about this metal. It's a poison," said Bruce A. Fowler, a cadmium specialist and toxicologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On the CDC's priority list of 275 most hazardous substances in the environment, cadmium ranks No. 7."

Actually, there are many positive things you can say about cadmium. Its non-toxicity just isn't one of them. In fact, I'm willing to bet many posters here have (or once had) cadmium in their homes as we speak -- in the form of rechargeable Nickel/Cadmium (AKA Ni/Cad) batteries.

[MamaMolly]

Actually, there are many positive things you can say about cadmium. Its non-toxicity just isn't one of them. In fact, I'm willing to bet many posters here have (or once had) cadmium in their homes as we speak -- in the form of rechargeable Nickel/Cadmium (AKA Ni/Cad) batteries.

True enough but I don't think many of us would willingly string one around our DC's neck.

[Penny's Pappa]

True enough but I don't think many of us would willingly string one around our DC's neck.

Yes. You're right, of course and I suppose that is the point of this thread. It's just that statements like Fowler's, when presented in that way, annoy me. Yes, cadmium can be toxic, but the article seems to go out of its way to make it sound as though it has absolutely no benefit which simply is not true.

Sorry. I've totally hijacked this thread. :oops:

[viba424]

Ive noticed that Banana Republic has also been selling lots of jewelry lately containing ferrous metals. That is completely unacceptable.

[maestramommy]

Okay, that does it. They're not wearing jewelry until they're old enough to wear the real thing.

[viba424]

^ ^ Yeah, really. stick with beads, strings and stay away from those yucky metals.

[BelleoftheBallFlagstaff]

More info from the CPSC
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100113/ap_on_bi_ge/cadmium_jewelry

[lfp2n]

Bit of a hijack but my DD has a Charm-It bracelet- it is kids jewelry from a kids store here in town. I had this correspondence with them at
http://highintencity.storesecured.com/
I wrote:

My daughter has an extensive Charm It bracelet collection. With all
the reports of high levels of cadmium in children's jewelry and the
withdrawal of a charm bracelet by the store Claires, I wondered
whether Charm It had been tested for Cadmium levels.

Please can you let me know whether this is a safe product and whether
you guarantee that it does not contain unacceptable levels of
dangerous metals.

They replied:
Hello Lucy,

Thank you for your inquiry on our Charm It brand. Safety is one of our top priorities and our items comply with all safety standards for children's jewelry and this includes any potential concerns in regards to cadmium.*

In regards to specifics, I would be more than happy to discuss our items with you in further details. Please feel either call me directly at 201-663-4516 or provide me with your phone number and best date/time to call you.*


Seems like an evasive reply, I hate calling people, do you take this as safe or not?

[Raidra]

^ ^ Yeah, really. stick with beads, strings and stay away from those yucky metals.

I know the website says metal jewelry, but I know that cadmium is in some paints (my artist sister uses cadmium paint sometimes). I'm not sure whether they would use that sort of paint on plastic or wood, but suffice to say we won't be buying any cheap children's jewelry at all.