Lead and Cadmium Hazard in Children's Jewelry

Author: Health Canada
Published: 2010/02/07 - Updated: 2024/12/06
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Informative
Topic: Recalls, Warnings and Advisories - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Health Canada is advising consumers that excessively high levels of lead have been found in some children's jewelry products sold in Canada. Health Canada also has concerns that cadmium, which is a carcinogen, may be increasingly substituted for lead in inexpensive jewelry.

Introduction

Consumers are reminded of the potential health risks associated with inexpensive children's jewelry that may contain lead. Health Canada also has concerns that cadmium, which is a carcinogen, may be increasingly substituted for lead in inexpensive jewelry. Health Canada recommends the following safety tips to parents:

Main Item

Safety Tips

• Check your child's jewelry. If you suspect it may contain lead or cadmium, throw it out in your regular household waste.
• Do not give young children adult jewelry to wear or play with; it may contain lead or cadmium.
• Do not allow children to suck or chew on any jewelry.
• If your child has sucked or chewed regularly on jewelry which you think may contain lead or cadmium, ask your doctor to test your child's blood for lead or cadmium.
• A child who swallows a jewelry item containing lead or cadmium is at high risk of developing serious health effects. Contact an emergency medical service if you believe your child has swallowed an item containing lead or cadmium.
• Check for product recalls by contacting the retailer, manufacturer or Health Canada.

Description of Identified Products:

• Item 1: T & D Pendant Necklace - This item is a silver chain necklace with a pendant. The pendant has a 'happy face' red maple leaf and a blue rectangle with the words 'Toronto, Canada' below the leaf. The necklace was attached to a white backing card bearing the words "T & D Collection".
• Item 2: Fashion Jewelry Bracelet - This item is a black double-corded bracelet with 3 metallic charms attached to it. The charms identified for high lead levels include (but may not be limited to) the following designs: Airplane, Eiffel Tower, Suitcase. This product was an adult design and is considered a borderline children's jewelry product.
• Item 3: Fashion Jewelry Pendant Necklace - This item is a bright silver chain with a large silver dollar sign pendant attached to it. The pendant was attached to a black backing card bearing the words "Fashion Jewelry".
• Item 4: Hot 2 Trot Bracelet - This item is a silver link bracelet with a charm in the form of a curled-up dolphin attached to it. The bracelet was attached to a small card bearing the words "Hot 2 Trot".

Details on the number of units distributed, and the retail locations and time period in which these products were sold in Canada, are not available.

The importers or distributors of jewelry items 1 to 3 are no longer in business, while item 4 had no dealer identification details.

Since Health Canada has not been able to ascertain this information, the Department is issuing this advisory to inform Canadians.

What to Do With Affected Products

Consumers should immediately take these items away from children's reach. The jewelry may be disposed of in normal household waste.

There is no lead or cadmium exposure risk associated with using these items for their intended purpose, but anyone sucking, chewing, or swallowing these items would be exposed to high levels of lead and/or cadmium.

If a child has been observed sucking or chewing on any of these items, and you suspect that lead or cadmium poisoning may have occurred, contact your family physician who can order a simple blood test to measure the child's blood lead /cadmium level.

If you notice or suspect that a child has swallowed an item that may contain lead or cadmium, contact your local poison control center immediately.

Background Information:

The high lead content of these jewelry products was detected when these items were sampled as part of Health Canada's cyclical enforcement survey for children's jewelry.

Samples were also tested for potential cadmium content. Health Canada has not received any reports of illness or incidents related to the use of these jewelry items.

Lead and cadmium are toxic metals which can have harmful effects on the behavior and development of children even at very low levels of exposure.

It is illegal under the Hazardous Products Act to import, advertise or sell jewelry items intended mainly for children under 15 which contain more than 600 mg/kg total lead and 90 mg/kg migratable lead.

There are no regulatory requirements with respect to cadmium levels in children's jewelry.

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Health Canada and published on 2010/02/07, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, Health Canada can be contacted at canada.ca/en/health-canada.html NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.