This morning I was sent this article from our PR firm. It talks about how federal agencies are now cracking down on a metal commonly used in children’s jewelry.

“Regulators reacted swiftly to an Associated Press investigation reporting that some Chinese manufacturers have been using cadmium in place of lead in children’s charm bracelets and pendants, sometimes at extraordinarily high levels. Congress clamped down on lead in those products in 2008, but cadmium is even more harmful.

In taped remarks to be delivered Tuesday in Hong Kong, the chairwoman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urged other countries to ensure that manufacturers do not substitute cadmium, antimony or barium in place of lead in children’s products.”

My husband and I were talking about this just this morning … it is VERY worrisome. My daughter seems to get ‘cheap’ jewelry everywhere. They come as gifts in everything from toy machines to birthday party goodie bags. It is very hard to know where they are coming from or what they contain. I walk a fine line between my own concern for her well-being and not wanting to be ‘mean mom’ who keeps her from wearing a Santa necklace from her best friend.

Please be aware of this when shopping for jewelry at places like Walmart and Claire’s. The studies in the article indicated that these shops had a high level of cadmium in their jewelry.