photo credit:  Under the Ever Green

Did you know that the US federal government has no limits on lead and cadmium in jewelry designed for children & adults 12 years of age and over?

According to the US Department of Public Health, however, leaded jewelry is a common cause of lead poisoning in children.

The American Academy of pediatrics has stated that there are no safe level of lead exposure in children, since even small levels of exposure can result in lasting decreases in cognition.

Lead and cadmium are not the only dangers in play jewelry- in the past lead, cadmium, arsenic, chlorine, PVC, bromine, chromium, nickel and mercury ( all of which have been linked to  health issues like cancer, liver toxicity, impaired learning, birth defects, allergies etc) have all been found in jewelry; many marketed to kids.

Why are heavy metals in jewelry a big concern- even if its jewelry designed for older kids?

1. Kids- of all ages- often place these items in their mouths

2. Kids often play with their mom’s jewelry

3. The largest market for kids jewelry is actually preteens and teens - and yet the jewelry marketed to them is not regulated

A new California state bill, the Safe Jewelry Act, which is being voted on TODAY proposes to:

• lower the allowable level of lead in jewelry marketed to older teens and adults from 60,000 ppm, to 500 ppm.

• re-define “children” as those 15 years old and younger, instead of the current age range of six and under.

• reduce allowable levels of lead in children’s jewelry from 600 ppm to 100 ppm

• seek out jewelry made of fabric

• do not allow your children to wear your own non precious jewelry

• Until the new law passes and its effects are felt throughout the US do not buy jewelry with metal pieces for children

• Jewelry tainted with heavy metals have been found in jewelry sold in: discount, dollar stores, department, gift shops, specialty stores and vending machines. While not all metal jewelry contains lead and other heavy metals it is best to avoid all because it is impossible to truly know which ones do.

• Sterling silver and 14K gold are safe to buy as are wood and silicone and fabric

Other sources of lead exposure in children 

Even if you don’t live in California, we can all benefit from this bill because California has the fifth-largest economy in the world, and when manufacturers have to change production standards for California, they often change their nation wide standards too

What can you do to make sure your kid’s jewelry is safe?

My Amazon store has some of my favorite safe jewelry for kids and mamas.

While the main source of lead exposure among U.S. children is lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust found in deteriorating buildings, other sources include:

 • some imported candies (specifically those from Mexico), and

• drinking water (lead pipes, solder, brass fixtures, and valves can all leach lead)