CPSC Announces New Policy Addressing Lead in Children's Metal Jewelry
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2005
Release # 05-097
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7051
CPSC Announces New Policy Addressing Lead in Children's Metal Jewelry
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
today announced a new enforcement policy (pdf) to reduce the potential for
health risks from lead in children's metal jewelry. The new policy gives manufacturers, importers and retailers clear guidance on steps they should take to minimize the risk
for children. The CPSC is also specifying the laboratory test
procedures (pdf) it will use to analyze lead content.
The new policy explains how the CPSC staff will test for lead in
children's jewelry and identifies the lead levels that will trigger
further attention. CPSC staff will first conduct a screening test to
determine the lead content of each type of component in a piece of
jewelry. For example, a necklace may consist of a chain, a clasp, a
pendant and one or more types of beads. If the lead content of each
component is less than or equal to 600 parts per million (ppm), the
staff will not pursue a recall or other corrective action. If the lead
content of any component exceeds 600 ppm, Commission staff will then
conduct further testing using the acid extraction method. If the acid
extraction test yields an amount of accessible lead less than or equal
to 175 micrograms (ug), no corrective action will be sought.
Pieces of metal jewelry with accessible lead greater than 175 ug
could result in elevated blood lead levels in children. In these
instances, CPSC staff will decide what corrective action may be
appropriate on a case-by-case basis. Staff will consider the age of the
children who are most likely to wear the jewelry, the level of
accessible lead, the size and shape of the jewelry components, the
probable routes of exposure and other factors.
Commission staff recommends that firms intending to sell
children's jewelry in the United States keep lead levels as low as
possible and test their own products following our guidelines to ensure
that they contain no more than 600 ppm lead. "We do not want children's
jewelry to have accessible lead that could cause elevated blood lead
levels," said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. "We urge manufacturers to
reduce the lead content of their products to the greatest extent
possible below the 600 ppm benchmark."
While deteriorating lead paint in homes is the leading cause of
lead poisoning in children, lead exposures from other sources add to the
overall risk. The scientific community generally recognizes a blood
lead level of 10 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dl) of blood as a level of
concern and recommends various lead poisoning prevention activities. To
prevent young children from exceeding the 10 ug/dl blood lead level,
CPSC seeks to limit exposure to lead from all consumer products,
including children's metal jewelry.
In 2004, CPSC announced recalls of more than 150 million pieces of
toy jewelry sold in vending machines and through other outlets. The
Commission is aware of several cases in which children developed high
blood lead levels after swallowing or repeatedly sucking on jewelry
items. Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral
problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth
retardation.