They are cheap, trendy, and shiny trinkets marketed to children, but some of the costume jewelry on the market is made from a harmful metal known as cadmium.
"This is certainly a metal that should not be in children's toys and/or bracelets, or anything children are around, or adults for that matter because it is a poisonous metal," said Dr. Karen Hill, a pediatrician with St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.
This week both Wal-Mart and international jewelry chain store, Claire's, pulled some of its products off store shelves. The move followed a lab test conducted on behalf of the Associated Press, which revealed high levels of cadmium in several pieces of children's jewelry.
The baubles were mainly produced in China, where the toxic metal is cheap and easy to use.
"I was teasing my husband today, and I thought you know, China is really trying to do our children in. First of all it's the lead in the toys and now this - it's pretty scary," said Sandy Lappin.
Cadmium is known to cause cancer, kidney failure and a wide variety of aliments.
"Stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, some odd behavior that doesn't fit. There are some reports of psychological behavior with long term exposure," said Dr. Hill.
In the United States, cadmium, much like lead in paint, is banned from children's toys. However, the law doesn't cover cadmium in jewelry, which is another worry for parents during a trip to the store.
"These are really easy, cheap things to buy. And I know my children see these things and want to buy them right away, and in a moment of weakness you'll grab one, " said parent Alexandra Chasse.
One mother told 39News her daughter has one of the items listed in the AP's report.
"I just found out about it today. So, I don't know if I am going to take it back and ask for my money back or rather demand my money back, or just throw it away. I don't know what I am going to do with it yet," said Rebecca.
Rebecca, who did not want to give her last name, wondered why this continues to happen to children's items.
"We're importing products that are horrible and contain all these toxins. Makes you really wonder what our trade laws really are," she said.
If you believe your child has been exposed to cadmium, a doctor can perform a blood and urine test to check for the metal.
"This is certainly a metal that should not be in children's toys and/or bracelets, or anything children are around, or adults for that matter because it is a poisonous metal," said Dr. Karen Hill, a pediatrician with St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital.
This week both Wal-Mart and international jewelry chain store, Claire's, pulled some of its products off store shelves. The move followed a lab test conducted on behalf of the Associated Press, which revealed high levels of cadmium in several pieces of children's jewelry.
The baubles were mainly produced in China, where the toxic metal is cheap and easy to use.
"I was teasing my husband today, and I thought you know, China is really trying to do our children in. First of all it's the lead in the toys and now this - it's pretty scary," said Sandy Lappin.
Cadmium is known to cause cancer, kidney failure and a wide variety of aliments.
"Stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, some odd behavior that doesn't fit. There are some reports of psychological behavior with long term exposure," said Dr. Hill.
In the United States, cadmium, much like lead in paint, is banned from children's toys. However, the law doesn't cover cadmium in jewelry, which is another worry for parents during a trip to the store.
"These are really easy, cheap things to buy. And I know my children see these things and want to buy them right away, and in a moment of weakness you'll grab one, " said parent Alexandra Chasse.
One mother told 39News her daughter has one of the items listed in the AP's report.
"I just found out about it today. So, I don't know if I am going to take it back and ask for my money back or rather demand my money back, or just throw it away. I don't know what I am going to do with it yet," said Rebecca.
Rebecca, who did not want to give her last name, wondered why this continues to happen to children's items.
"We're importing products that are horrible and contain all these toxins. Makes you really wonder what our trade laws really are," she said.
If you believe your child has been exposed to cadmium, a doctor can perform a blood and urine test to check for the metal.
