High levels of cadmium found in jewelry for children
1 min read
Cigarette smoke isn’t the only substance exposing children to toxic levels of cadmium these days. In fact, cadmium is currently used as a replacement for lead in inexpensive children’s jewelry sold in the United States and a new study shows that children who wear, mouth, or accidentally swallow this type of jewelry are exposed to potentially dangerous amounts.
The study, soon to be published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, tested 612 samples of imported jewelry, all under $12 and purchased in the United States since 2006.
Samples were tested in a saline solution to approximate how much cadmium is released upon mouthing the item, while other samples were placed in a hydrochloric acid solution to simulate the conditions of the stomach upon swallowing. The results showed that substantial amounts of cadmium were released when mouthed or swallowed. In fact, the amount of cadmium leached by many jewelry items exceeded the US Consumer and Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) proposed limits by more than 100 times.
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/032289_cadmium_jewelry.html
