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Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Cadmium in Jewelry Shows Difficulty in Regulating Toxic Products
Yesterday, the Associated Press (AP) announced test results showing that costume jewelry imported from China contained very high levels of the toxic metal cadmium. Cadmium is a heavy metal that can lead to numerous toxic effects, including cancer, kidney dysfunction, developmental disorders, and bleeding in nerve bundles related to sight, hearing, and other senses. Cadmium is, like many other heavy metals, a bio-accumulant--once in your body it tends to stay in your body, finding its way into numerous tissues and causing toxic effects throughout your life.
The AP-coordinated tests were performed on over 100 pieces of costume jewelry found in US-retail stores. The tests revealed that although most of the jewelry did not contain cadmium, about 10 percent did, sometimes at startling amounts. Several pieces were more than 10% cadmium by weight, others over 80%, and one piece was 91% cadmium by weight.
Cadmium is a soft metal, easily worn away through normal use, and once free it can be readily absorbed, either by inhalation or ingestion.
It is not uncommon for manufacturers to use cadmium in products intended for the Chinese domestic market, and some speculate that manufacturers are using the metal as a substitute for lead they have been forced to remove as a result of higher standards for all children's products, including jewelry. There is currently no standard for the level of cadmium that jewelry, toys, or other products can contain.
Although lawmakers are looking at altering the law to cover cadmium, this situation shows the difficulty in writing laws to regulate toxins in products. Lawmakers can only foresee and write standards for so many toxic substances, but manufacturers know what they are putting in their products, and know whether it is toxic or not. By holding them to the highest level of responsibility for their products with product liability lawsuits, we can make them consider the real cost of their products before they cause harm.
If you or a loved one has been hurt by a toxic or defective product, the personal injury lawyers of The Cochran Firm can help. Please schedule a free case evaluation today.
The AP-coordinated tests were performed on over 100 pieces of costume jewelry found in US-retail stores. The tests revealed that although most of the jewelry did not contain cadmium, about 10 percent did, sometimes at startling amounts. Several pieces were more than 10% cadmium by weight, others over 80%, and one piece was 91% cadmium by weight.
Cadmium is a soft metal, easily worn away through normal use, and once free it can be readily absorbed, either by inhalation or ingestion.
It is not uncommon for manufacturers to use cadmium in products intended for the Chinese domestic market, and some speculate that manufacturers are using the metal as a substitute for lead they have been forced to remove as a result of higher standards for all children's products, including jewelry. There is currently no standard for the level of cadmium that jewelry, toys, or other products can contain.
Although lawmakers are looking at altering the law to cover cadmium, this situation shows the difficulty in writing laws to regulate toxins in products. Lawmakers can only foresee and write standards for so many toxic substances, but manufacturers know what they are putting in their products, and know whether it is toxic or not. By holding them to the highest level of responsibility for their products with product liability lawsuits, we can make them consider the real cost of their products before they cause harm.
If you or a loved one has been hurt by a toxic or defective product, the personal injury lawyers of The Cochran Firm can help. Please schedule a free case evaluation today.
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posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 7:35 AM
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