Lead and cadmium in children's jewellery

Could your child's jewellery be dangerous?

A soft, inexpensive metal, lead is often used in making costume jewellery. Wearing jewellery containing lead does not cause harm -- but sucking, chewing on or swallowing it can cause damage to children's bodies, especially the nervous system.

Jewellery that is painted or has a top coating does not make it safer for children: the coating can be chewed or worn off. One of the big challenges with lead is that it has a sweet taste, which can encourage kids to put it in their mouths.

Cadmium may be increasingly substituted for lead in making costume jewellery. But in fact it is a heavy metal that's actually more toxic than lead. Again, there is no known risk associated with wearing jewellery that contains cadmium, but sucking, chewing on or swallowing it may cause serious health effects for children.

Safety tips

• Inspect your children's jewellery. Items made with a high percentage of lead are heavy for their size. Unless the item has a coating, it will be greyish in colour and may leave a grey mark when rubbed against a piece of white paper.
• Throw away jewellery you suspect may contain lead or cadmium in your regular household waste.
• Do not give young children adult jewellery to wear or play with; it may contain lead or cadmium.
• Don't let kids suck or chew on any jewellery.
• If your child has sucked or chewed regularly on jewellery and you think it may contain lead or cadmium, ask your doctor to test your child's blood.
• A child who swallows jewellery containing lead or cadmium is at high risk of developing lead poisoning or serious health effects from cadmium exposure. Contact an emergency medical service immediately.
• Check for product recalls by contacting the retailer or manufacturer or check Recalls and Safety Alerts.