Children´s jewelry was supposed to get safer after a federal ban on the use of toxic lead in charms and jewelry went into effect last year. But it´s not illegal to make children´s products out of cadmium, despite the fact that it´s clearly dangerous. Cadmium is a known carcinogen. Like lead, it can hinder brain development in the very young, according to recent research. Children don´t have to swallow an item to be exposed - they can get persistent, low-level doses by regularly sucking or biting jewelry with high cadmium content.

On Jan. 13, the United States Congress proposed the H.R. 4428, "The Children’s Toxic Metals Act," "to prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution in commerce of children’s jewelry containing cadmium, barium, or antimony, and for other purposes." It defines children as 12 years old or younger.

The recommended testing protocol for cadmium is the same one used for lead, in which pieces are dissolved in acid and then analyzed. Test Method: CPSC-CH-E1001-08, Standard Operating Procedure for Determining Total Lead (Pb) in Children’s Metal Products (Including Children’s Metal Jewelry) http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/CPSC-CH-E1001-08.pdf

RTS’s service:

With it’s laboratories and experts, RTS can offer a wide range of analytical testing and consultation service for heavy metals to assist its customers in complying with the new Children’s Toxic Metals Act Bill (H.R. 4428). We have a variety of service as following: