UF students might want to think twice before buying some budget bling.
Since Mattel recalled nearly 1 million toys in August 2007 after they were found to be laced with lead, some Chinese manufacturers have been substituting the toxic heavy metal cadmium in low-cost jewelry.
An Associated Press investigation showed several Chinese-manufactured jewelry pieces contained cadmium levels of up to 91 percent by weight, according to the AP article.
Lab testing performed for the AP also revealed some items shed the substance easily, increasing concern for the effects of cadmium exposure, especially in children and young adults, who are more susceptible to cadmium’s effects.
Cadmium, the seventh most-hazardous substance in the environment, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, can cause severe liver and kidney problems, said David Barber, associate professor at UF’s Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology.
“Cadmium has been recognized as a toxic metal for many years,” he said. “I was quite surprised when I heard it wasn’t something that was paid much attention to.”
Some of the jewelry with high levels of cadmium was sold at Claire’s and Wal-Mart, the AP investigation revealed.
The tainted jewelry included two charms for a “best friends” bracelet sold by Claire’s and three flip-flop-shaped bracelet charms available at Wal-Mart, according to the AP.
Claire’s issued a statement announcing it would discontinue the sale of the bracelet out of caution, although the company has no reason to believe the product is unsafe. The company requires that all merchandise pass tests at a lab approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
A statement issued by Wal-Mart announced the company would remove all items identified in recent cadmium-related media reports from its shelves.
Wal-Mart is also conducting its own investigation and is cooperating with the CPSC’s current investigation.
Sonia Hayes Pleasant, spokeswoman for the CPSC, said shoppers should avoid buying such products at this time.
“There’s no way a parent can determine if a piece of metal jewelry contains any kind of metal, including cadmium,” she said.
Cadmium, which is naturally found in soils and is used in some plastics, is restricted in some items such as painted toys but not in jewelry, according to the AP.
After lead became strictly regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, manufacturers began searching for alternatives as the price of cadmium dropped.
A safer substitute for cadmium is zinc, which is the most-cited metal for lead replacement in jewelry imported to the U.S. for sale.
“Cadmium is one of the nastier heavy metals that are out there,” Barber said. “It can have a lot of effects depending on how largely you’re exposed.
