Toxins found in adult jewelry; item pulled

One of the pieces was made in China and another was made in India. Labeling on a black-colored link necklace, purchased at Saks for US$69.99, did not indicate where it was made.

Based on the results of its testing, the Center for Environmental Health said it would seek a ban on cadmium in all jewelry.

The center said it began lab testing adult jewelry for cadmium after an Associated Press investigation reported last month that pieces of cheap children's jewelry imported from China contained levels of cadmium of up to 91 percent of their total content.

In response to an AP inquiry about the adult jewelry findings, the parent company of Catherines, a national chain of plus-size stores, said Tuesday that it was pulling a bracelet with a pink “breast cancer awareness” charm that was found to have high levels of cadmium from all 460 of its stories. The item, made in China, was bought for US$6.99.

Saks Inc. spokeswoman Julia Bentley said only: “We received a letter from the CEH today and are reviewing and evaluating this matter.”

Aeropostale did not respond to requests for comment after tests showed that a circular pendant on a necklace bought at the retailer for US$7.99 also revealed a relatively high level of cadmium, according to the center. The piece was made in India.

The Center for Environmental Health said it was pursuing a lawsuit under a California law it used to set stringent limits on lead in both adult and children's jewelry in the state, starting in 2006. The settlement of that lawsuit was pivotal in national efforts to reduce lead levels in all metal jewelry sold in the United States.

There is no limit under federal law on cadmium in jewelry sold in the U.S.

In the latest testing, besides the three adult jewelry pieces, a US$7.90 cupcake-shaped pendant on a necklace bought at the 'tween store Justice also had a high level of cadmium, the center said.

“Our legal action sends a strong signal to industry that we will not stand by while they play toxic flavor of the month with jewelry,” said Michael Green, the group's executive director.

The center's testing had revealed cadmium in adult jewelry dating to at least September 2008, but its focus had been on lead until the AP investigation.

In its analysis, the Center for Environmental Health did an initial screening of 97 jewelry items with a technology called XRF, which uses X-rays to estimate how much of a metal is in an item. Alarmingly high levels of cadmium were detected in seven pieces.

Four of these were sent to a Chicago-based lab, Stat Analysis, for detailed analysis, with the other three planned for later analysis, according to center spokesman Charles Margulis.

Cadmium is used primarily in rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, as well as in pigments, electroplating and plastic.

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