Washington State Reports on Kids' Jewelry Scrutiny

The Washington State Department of Ecology March 15 said it deemed five pieces of children's jewelry to have high levels of lead or cadmium. All were packaged with girls' dresses and were out of 27 such sets reviewed. The agency also tested 132 stand-alone items, but said none had "concerning levels of these metals."

One of the necklaces had more than 50,000 parts per million lead (ppm). The agency referred it to CPSC, noting preemption of federal rules on that element (PSL, 2/29/16). CPSC limits lead content in children's products to 100 ppm.

Meanwhile, the other four necklaces had cadmium levels ranging from 397,000 ppm to 984,000 ppm or about 40% to 98% of the metal in them. The state's limit is 40 ppm. The agency said it notified the manufacturers and sough corrective actions, warning they face penalties otherwise.

Under Washington's Children's Safe Products Act, companies face fines of up to $5,000 per violation for first time offense and up to $10,000 for repeat violations. The law is a reporting statute, so a violation stems from failure to give notice of a "chemical of high concern to children."

The Department of Ecology explained that simply wearing the items would be unlikely to result in a significant exposure to the elements. However, it urged consumers to return or dispose of them, pointing to the risks linked to swallowing or hand-to-mouth behavior.

The brand linked to lead was Xtraordinary by SWAT. The ones involving cadmium were Soulmates Girl by Big Strike, Beautees by KWDZ Manufacturing, and two by My Michelle Girls by Kellwood. See more at 1.usa.gov/1UiEynr.

Nationally, ASTM's F2923 limits migration of cadmium in the substrate of small parts in children's jewelry to 200 μg, with acid solution testing triggered at 300 ppm.