Children Being Poisoned By Cadmium in Chinese-made Toys

by Heidi Stevenson

11 January 2010

With utter disregard for the health of children, Chinese manufacturers substituted cadmium, a far more dangerous heavy metal, for lead in children's toys. An investigation by Associated Press (AP) has shown that charm bracelet trinkets and other cute and shimmering jewelry toys for little girls are being sold in major retail outlets across the United States.

After the scandalous use of lead in Chinese-made children's toys was exposed, rather than using safe materials like zinc, some manufacturers took the cheapest approach. The products, though clearly aimed at little girls, are classed as jewelry rather than toys. There is no legal restriction on cadmium in jewelry, so these products have been legal.

The AP investigation found trinkets with cadmium content as high as 91% by weight. 12 percent of the 103 items they tested were found to have cadmium in them.

Callousness of Retailers

Retailers included Walmart, where bracelet charms were found to contain 84-86% cadmium, and that they could shed enough of it in 24 hours to exceed the World Health Organization's (WHO's) maximum exposure for a 33 pound (15 kilogram) child over 60 weeks. Walmart has refused to comment.

Trinkets sold by Claire's were found to contain as much as 91% cadmium. The company responded by saying that their products comply with all applicable safety standards.

Walt Disney Company, which was found to sell cadmium-laced trinkets, also hid behind the claim of abiding by all applicable safety standards.

Cadmium Poisoning

It isn't necessary to eat a cadmium-laced trinket to experience harm. Sucking on or chewing a pendant can also poison.

Cadmium is a particularly devastating poison. It's number 7 in the CDC's list of most hazardous environmental substances. It has no place in any metabolic process. It accumulates in both the body and the environment, so it can remain hidden for years before its effects are felt. Like lead, cadmium can damage developing brains. It's also a potent carcinogen and can cause a wide range of health problems, including kidney failure, emphysema, osteoporosis, and neurological damage.

If you're concerned that your child might have been exposed to cadmium, look for these symptoms:

• Headache
• Vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea
• Anemia
• Lack of sense of smell
• Any indication of kidney dysfunction, including pain in the lower back away from the spine, changes in urine or toilet behavior.
• Fatigue
• Behavioral changes
• Metallic taste in mouth
• Impaired sensation
• Difficulty breathing

Official Response

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has authority to regulate cadmium under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, which was used to enforce limitations on lead in toys. In response to AP's report, the CPSC announced that it will "take action as quickly as possible to protect the safety of children". However, it has been aware of the problem, though probably not its extent, for years, and has put it on the back burner. According to AP, they have received dozens of cadmiumn incident reports over the last several years, but have taken no actions to control cadmium use in children's products.

The Toy Industry Association of America responded with redirection. Rather than answering questions about cadmium use and what it might do to stop the problem, Rick Locker, their general counsel, said that they make safe products and that cadmium isn't widely used. Sheila A. Millar, an attorney who represents the Fashion Jewelry Trade Association, echoed the same response. She stated in an e-mail, "While FJTA can only speak to the experience of its member, widespread substitution of cadmium is not something they see."