d greater than 300 ppm lead in one or more components. 300 ppm is the CPSC limit of lead in children’s products.
CADMIUM -- 10 of 99 (10%) of jewelry contained greater than100 ppm cadmium in one or more components.
CHROMIUM -- 92 of 95 (93%) of jewelry contained greater than 100 ppm chromium.
NICKEL -- 30 of 95 (30%) of jewelry contained greater than 100 ppm nickel.
BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS -- 7 of 95 (7%) of jewelry contained brominated flame retardants (greater than 1,000 ppm bromine).
CHLORINE -- One-third, 11 of 95 (12%) of jewelry contained PVC (greater than 25,000 ppm chlorine).
Other chemicals analyzed include mercury and arsenic.
According to the CPSC, parents and caregivers should not allow young children to be given, or to play with, cheap metal jewelry, especially when unsupervised. The CPSC states that: "Swallowing, sucking on or chewing a metal charm or necklace could result in exposure to lead, cadmium or other heavy metals, which are known to be toxic at certain levels of exposure."
However, in 2010, the CPSC declined to regulate cadmium in children's products, and instead has supported an industry developed voluntary standard. In response, six states have moved to regulate cadmium in the absence of federal leadership, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington State. In addition, a wave of consumer pressure is propelling a rewrite of the Toxics Substance Control Act (TSCA), the federal law that regulates chemicals in commerce. The TSCA reform bill, the Safe Chemicals Act (S. 847), was introduced by Senator Lautenburg in 2011 and now has 15 co-sponsors.
"Toxic jewelry is just one symptom of the complete failure of our federal chemicals regulatory system," said Gearhart. "Our children will never be safe until we reform our laws to ensure products are safe before they arrive on store shelves."
Since 2007 researchers at the Ecology Center have performed over 20,000 tests on 7,000 consumer products, including pet products, vehicles, women's handbags, jewelry, back-to-school products, children's toys, building products and children's car seats. All of this research is available at the consumer-friendly website: www.HealthyStuff.org.
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