Jewellery

Lead is a soft, inexpensive metal, which is often used in making costume jewellery. However, lead is highly toxic, even at low levels of exposure, especially to children.

Children may be exposed to harmful levels of lead when they suck or chew on jewellery that contains lead. Lead has a sweet taste and this encourages children to put items that contain lead in their mouths.

Health Canada has enacted the Children's Jewellery Regulations, which restrict the importation, advertisement, or sale of children's jewellery that contains more than 600 mg/kg total lead and more than 90 mg/kg migratable lead. The Regulations were published in Canada Gazette Part II on June 1st, 2005.

More about these regulations and children’s jewellery containing lead can be found in these publications:

• Children’s Jewellery Containing Lead
• It's Your Health - Effects of Lead on Human Health
• Facts for Garage Sale Vendors
• Warning: Health Canada warns Canadians about potential child's lead exposure
• Warning: Potential lead exposure from Kids Klub Necklace with Pendant
• Children's Jewellery Regulations
• Order Amending Schedule I to the Hazardous Products Act (Children’s Jewellery)