Health Department Testing Reveals Items of Children’s Jewelry With Excess Lead

Many parents are aware of the health risks associated with lead poisoning. The federal government limits the amount of lead in children’s toys. But what they may not know is our inspectors continue to find some products – especially children’s jewelry – with off-the-charts lead content being sold in Baltimore City retail stores.

Lead is toxic to the nervous system. It can cause severe illness and even death at high doses and cognitive impairment and other neurological problems at lower doses. These health risks are the reason the Baltimore City Health Department tests products for lead levels every month. This morning, we issued violations to three businesses selling items of children’s jewelry that contained dangerous levels of lead. Lead contents below 300 parts per million (ppm) are considered safe. However, these items tested by an independent certified laboratory for as much as 280,000 ppm of lead.

Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of these test results is that one of the products was labeled “lead compliant,” and yet it contained 18,000 ppm of lead – that is 6 times the regulated limit.

All products of the same style and manufacturer to these items are being considered a nuisance to public health. These products may not be offered for retail sale in Baltimore City. Please be on the lookout for these products:

Item: 4pc Pink & Rhinestone Flower Set (Rhinestone flower clip on earrings)

Total Lead Content: 18,000 ppm

Item: Strawberry Charm Bracelet (Big Strawberry Charm)

Total Lead Content: 180,000 ppm

Item: 3 piece Pearl Set (Pearl Necklace)

Total Lead Content: Clasp – 3,800 ppm; Chain – 280,000 ppm

This and other recent toy recalls due to unsafe lead levels should serve as an important reminder for parents to remain vigilant. Dangerous lead levels have recently been found in a Toy Story 3 bowling set, an American Girl’s craft kit, even articles of children’s clothing.  In fact, a quick glance at the CPSC’s toy hazard recalls will illustrate that the sale of children’s items containing high levels of lead remains a stubbornly difficult problem to combat.

For more information on Baltimore’s regulation on lead in children’s jewelry, visit our website.