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Children's jewelry products found to have dangerous levels of toxic metals

Does your child’s jewelry have lead or cadmium in it? Should you be concerned?

According to a statement made by Health Minster Leona Aqlukkaq on Wednesday, up to 50 percent of children’s jewelry routinely tested by Health Canada contain lead.

After conducting this year’s test, the minister announced that many children’s jewelry products have levels of lead and cadmium well over the acceptable legal limit and issued a recall on a number of products.

Currently, the legal limit for lead in children’s jewelry, which was determined in 2005, is 0.06 percent of its total weight. But some of the products recalled had between 50-86 percent.

As well, some of the jewelry had levels of cadmium ranging from 16-46 percent. And while there is no legal limit for cadmium in children’s jewelry, Health Canada called for a voluntary ban in October 2010.

This year’s test results were not that different than last year’s result when 20 products were recalled.

And yes, there is reason to be concerned. While simply wearing a necklace or bracelet with lead or cadmium is not a health hazard, sucking on it or swallowing a piece, even with low levels, can poison a child’s brain or kidney, possibly leading to death.

Better to play it safe. Look out for the following products that have been recalled:

  • Princess necklace with a metallic heart-shaped pendant with 50 percent lead. Imported by CTGBrands.

  • Two items marked "lead-free," imported by Montreal's Deejay Jewellery, that tested at between 58 and 86 percent lead.

  • Several products imported by Groupe Dynamite of Montreal. Two had lead levels of 50 and 70 percent, respectively, while a third was 30 percent cadmium.

  • Various charms and pendants imported by Montreal's Frabels with up to 51 percent lead and 46 percent cadmium.

  • For a full list of all children's jewelry product recalls in 2011, click here.

Also, here are some tips from Health Canada's website about how to keep your child safe from the effects of cadmium and lead jewelry:

  • Check your child's jewellery. Items that are made with a high percentage of lead are heavy for their size. Unless the item has a coating, it will be greyish in colour and may leave a grey mark when rubbed against a piece of white paper.

  • If you suspect jewellery may contain lead or cadmium, throw it out in your regular household waste.

  • Do not give young children adult jewellery to wear or play with; it may contain lead or cadmium.

  • Do not allow children to suck or chew on any jewellery.

  • If your child has sucked or chewed regularly on jewellery which you think may contain lead or cadmium, ask your doctor to test your child's blood for lead or cadmium.

  • Contact an emergency medical service if you believe your child has swallowed an item containing lead or cadmium.

  • Check for product recalls by contacting the retailer, manufacturer or Health Canada.

What do you think of how the Health Minster has handled this problem? Tell us by responding to our poll on the right-hand column.

With files from the Vancouver Sun and CBC