Warning

2003-82
November 5, 2003
For immediate release

Health Canada warns Canadians about potential child's lead exposure

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning Canadians that children may be exposed to lead if they chew, suck on or swallow a "Runic" pendant necklace which has been sold since 2002 through vending machines and possibly retail stores located in the United States and Canada. Because the pendant is small enough to be swallowed and has a cord, it is also a choking and strangulation hazard for young children.

Lead is a toxic heavy metal which can produce harmful effects on the behaviour and development of children even at very low levels of exposure. Items which are made with a high percentage of lead are greyish in colour, heavy for their size, and leave a grey mark when rubbed against a piece of white paper.

Health Canada is committed to eliminating unnecessary lead exposure in children and is considering regulatory proposals under the Hazardous Products Act which will address the import, sale or advertisement of children's jewellery with a high lead content.

The pendant is described as a 2.2 centimetre (7/8 inch) diameter pendant made of grey metal. It has various runic symbols (an alphabet script used by ancient peoples of northern Europe) engraved on one side of it and is attached to a 25 centimetre (10 inch) black cord. About 28,000 of these pendants were distributed to vending companies in Canada by L.M. Becker Company of Kimberly, Wisconsin, the majority of which were sold before the manufacturer's recall. Similar pendants may also have been imported and sold in Canada through other companies.

The warning is issued following a case of lead poisoning reported in a child living in the U.S. state of Oregon who swallowed one of these necklaces. No cases of lead poisoning or of choking/strangulation from the identified pendants have been reported in Canada. Similar pendants may also have been imported and sold in Canada through other companies.

There is no lead exposure risk associated with wearing the necklace, but anyone sucking, chewing, or swallowing the pendant would be exposed to the substance. Health Canada, however, advises that if your child possesses or has access to a pendant of this description, it should be removed immediately from the child's reach and disposed of using normal household waste disposal. Children may also be exposed to lead if they handle the pendant and then put their hands into their mouths. If you suspect that a child may have lead poisoning from mouthing one of these pendants, contact your family physician who can order a blood test to measure the child's blood lead level.

Lead is an inexpensive metal and jewellery items made from it are generally low-end costume jewellery. When buying children's costume jewellery, check with the retailer before buying to make sure it does not contain lead. If the retailer cannot provide assurances that the item is lead-free, do not buy it. If you have any doubts about such products in your child's possession, remove them immediately.

For further information, consumers can contact the Health Canada Product Safety Office nearest them:

Photograph of product

• photograph

-30-

Media Inquiries:
Margot Geduld/Carole Saindon
Health Canada
(613) 957-1588

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991