A Minnesota advocacy group says it found high levels of lead and other hazardous chemicals in children's jewelry purchased at Twin Cities retailers and says its findings demonstrate the need for stronger consumer protections.
Healthy Legacy of Minnesota joined the Ecology Center in Michigan to test 99 items, including 11 purchased in Minnesota. More than half contained high levels of lead or other material, such as cadmium, that could be hazardous, even fatal, if ingested by children.
"There is no excuse for jewelry, especially children's jewelry, to be made with some of the most well-studied and dangerous substances on the planet," said Jeff Gearhart of the Ecology Center, which published its results on the HealthyStuff.org website.
The hazards of lead in jewelry came to prominence in Minnesota in 2006, when 4-year-old Jarnell Brown died from lead poisoning after swallowing a metal charm given away with Reebok shoes. Congress toughened national standards, and the Legislature banned sale of any jewelry containing lead, if intended for children 6 and younger. Not all products tested by Healthy Legacy were targeted to that group, the organization noted.
Raising particular concern were a tiara purchased at a Claire's jewelry store in the Twin Cities and a cupcake charm necklace purchased from a local Justice clothing store. Both contained more than 35 times the amount of lead allowed in children's products by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the advocacy group said.
Tested products also included a crystal bow necklace and a heart earring set from Target, both with high concentrations of lead. The lead was found in decorative crystals, which isn't as concerning as lead found in metal or enamel, a Healthy Legacy spokeswoman said, because lead doesn't leach as rapidly from crystals.
Target spokeswoman Stacia Smith said the retailer is "committed to providing high quality and safe products" and that "all jewelry sold in the children's department meets all federal product safety requirements."
A Claire's spokesperson said the company is reviewing the test results, but that its product safety standards in some cases are stricter than federal standards.
