Update: According to the Associated Press, the retailer Catherine's is pulling the cadmium-tainted "breast cancer awareness" bracelets from its stores nationwide.

Contact: Charles Margulis, 510-697-0615 (cell); Caroline Cox, 510-655-3900 x308

At the Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier: Mike Larsen, (202) 225-3531; (202) 957-4340 (press only)

Four retailers notified for excessive levels of cadmium in jewelry 

February 02, 2010

Oakland, CA-The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) yesterday notified four leading retailers, Saks Fifth Avenue, Justice, Catherines, and Aeropostale that independent lab testing has found significant levels of cadmium in jewelry purchased from their stores in December and January.

Legislation in Washington State enacted last year bans more than 0.004% cadmium in products for children. Lab tests show that a cupcake pendant on a children's necklace from Justice and a pink ribbon "breast cancer awareness" women's bracelet from a Catherine's store each contains more than 18,000 times that level. A 2009 research review found that exposures to cadmium could be responsible for a significant percentage of the recent increases in breast cancer cases.

An Associated Press report in January noted high levels of the toxic metal cadmium found in many pieces of children's jewelry, and suggested that, in response to the new federal law banning lead in children's products, jewelry makers may be using cadmium in place of lead.

"Our legal action sends a strong signal to industry that we will not stand by while they play toxic flavor of the month with jewelry," said Michael Green, Executive Director of CEH. "Cadmium is toxic at any age. There is no excuse for cadmium in any jewelry, and we intend to eliminate this health threat to women and children."

Cadmium is a heavy metal that can cause cancer, genetic damage, and kidney problems. A 2006 study concluded that exposure in children "should be limited as much as possible" to prevent direct health problems and problems later in their lives. A recent review of cadmium's potential for reproductive harm concluded that the chemical "has the potential to affect reproduction . at every stage of the reproductive process."  In men, this includes problems with sperm production; in women, it includes problems getting and maintaining a pregnancy as well as birth defects. People can be exposed to cadmium if they touch, suck on or accidentally swallow metal pieces, and studies show it can stay in our bodies for more than two decades.

The CEH legal notices are based on California consumer protection law, which applies to any jewelry that exposes children or adults to significant levels of cadmium. Federal laws on lead in children's products, including jewelry, went into effect last year, but a loophole in the law has allowed jewelry makers to substitute cadmium. Congresswomen Jackie Speier has introduced legislation to ban cadmium and other toxic metals from all children's jewelry nationwide.

"There is no viable reason for cadmium and other dangerous metals to be used in the production of these consumer goods.  That is why I wrote legislation banning them from children's jewelry," said Congresswomen Speier.  "But protecting the health and safety of our children requires a many-pronged approach.  I applaud The Center for Environmental Health for taking this strong legal action."

On Monday, California State Senator Fran Pavley, who in 2006 authored the nation's first ban on lead in children's jewelry, introduced a bill in California to ban the use of cadmium in children's jewelry sold in California. "There is absolutely no reason for our most vulnerable citizens - our children - to be exposed to this highly toxic metal," said Senator Pavley. "We can not stand by and allow manufactures to poison kids by replacing one dangerous metal with another. The use of cadmium in children's jewelry is a shameless end run around current law and I applaud the CEH for their legal action today and for their continued efforts to protect the health of our children."

CEH's 2006 legal settlement with more than 100 companies to end health threats from lead in jewelry formed the basis of a California law that sets limits on lead in adult and children's jewelry.

In January, CEH announced its landmark legal agreement setting the nation's first binding rules to end health threats from lead in purses and handbags. CEH's legal work has previously uncovered lead threats from toys, vinyl baby bibs, diaper creams and children's medicines, lunchboxes, children's jewelry, automobile wheel weights, and many other products.

CEH has a ten-year track record of protecting consumers from hidden health hazards and protecting communities from health hazards related to toxic pollution. CEH also works with major industries and leaders in green business to promote healthier alternatives to toxic products and practices.

For more on cadmium in jewelry, read our report on cadmium in jewelry here.

For the Washington State ban on cadmium in children's products, see http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.240.020

For information on federal legislation to ban cadmium in children's jewelry (HR 4428), see 

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.+4428:

For more on CEH's legal settlement on lead in adult and children's jewelry, see http://www.ceh.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=153&Itemid=166

For information on California's jewelry law, see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/Jewelry/upload/jewelry-fact-sheet-May-09.pdf