California Finds Lead In Children’s Jewelry
California stores are pulling children’s jewelry off the shelves after tests showed extremely high levels of lead in the products. The state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control ordered 11 retailers to remove over a dozen brands of jewelry after finding bracelets, rings, and necklaces with up to 600 times the legal lead limit.
The investigation follows a new law banning lead levels of over 600 parts per million in children’s jewelry that took effect on September 1. A similar law for adult jewelry takes effect March 1 of 2008. Jewelry is of particular concern because children often put items in their mouth.
