Jewelers Seek to Replace Limits on Cadmium in Children’s Jewelry

The U.S. jewelry industry is requesting that several states overturn laws that limit the toxic metal cadmium in children’s jewelry and adopt new voluntary guidelines that were passed last week by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International, which sets voluntary limits for a range of products. The industry says the stricter rules in many states may create chaos for manufacturers and importers. Mandatory limits adopted over the past year already deter use of the heavy metal, which over time can also cause bone and kidney diseases, though there have been no documented deaths or serious injuries. Since the limits are voluntary, there is no automatic penalty for jewelry sold with excessive cadmium levels, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will use the limits in deciding whether to pursue product recalls.