Lead in Kids Jewelry

In an article in the August 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, many kids under 4 ( and some are older) will put any cute trinket they get their hands on into their mouths. so when they spotted jewelry with warnings that it was not for children under age 7, 12, or 14, respectively despite its obvious kid appeal they were suspicious.


They tested five styles of earrings and two necklaces purchased at Walmart, Target, and Claire's. An outside lab analyzed all for heavy metals, including lead and cadmium, which can be poisonous if ingested.


They found all seven items contained lead well above the legal limit for children's products, even two marked, "sterling silver" (by definition, 92.5 percent pure). A tiny stud earring from Walmart contained 124 times the permissible lead level for kids. Its label, "not intended for use by children under 14," doesn't mean they won't want or receive it. Most pieces also contained cadmium, the culprit in several recent jewelry recalls.


They recommend not to buy inexpensive jewelry for kids even if it's labeled "sterling silver". Keep all jewelry away from young children. Ingesting an item containing heavy metals is unlikely to cause immediate harm or death, but call Poison Control (800-222-1222) if a child swallows one.