Health Canada to test kids’ jewelry for toxic metal cadmium
January 15, 2010
The Canadian Press
Health Canada says it is going to start sampling and testing children’s jewelry to see if it contains cadmium.
The department says it is concerned cadmium, which is a carcinogen, may be finding its way into cheap jewelry as a substitute for lead, which is also a health hazard.
A recent investigation in the United States by the Associated Press news agency found a fair proportion of items of children’s jewelry imported from China contained cadmium.
Health Canada says it conducts ongoing testing of regulated children’s products on the Canadian market to ensure they are safe for use.
Last year it began an investigation to determine the extent of cadmium use in children’s jewelry sold in Canada as part of a regular cycle of enforcement testing for lead.
The department says it should have a better idea of how often cadmium is being used in children’s jewelry sold in Canada once it completes a new round of enforcement at the end of March.