1/15/2010: Warden Message Regarding Cadmium in Children’s Jewelry

This warden message is to inform Americans of recent U.S. media reports concerning the potential danger of children’s metal jewelry produced in China containing cadmium.  Inez Tenenbaum, Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), warns that young children should not be given or allowed to play with metal costume jewelry made in China. 

Since 2004, the CPSC has conducted recalls of more than 180 million pieces of metal jewelry because they contained a hazardous amount of lead.  Recent reports indicate that producers of children’s jewelry in China are using potentially dangerous levels of the heavy metal cadmium, a known carcinogen, as a substitute.  In response to these reports, Chairman Tenenbaum states that the CPSC has opened a formal investigation into the dangers of children’s metal jewelry manufactured in China. 

The CPSC warns that swallowing, sucking on or chewing a metal charm or necklace could result in exposure to lead, cadmium or other heavy metals, which are known to be toxic at certain levels of exposure. CPSC further warns caregivers to protect young children from possibly being exposed to lead, cadmium or any other hazardous heavy metal by removing any items that may contain the offending metals.

It is very difficult to determine if a specific item contains harmful levels of a metal.  Please check the CPSC website at http://www.cpsc.gov/index.html for more information and further updates.

U.S. Embassy Beijing:  Tian Ze Road intersection of An Jia Lou Road, Chaoyang District.  Telephone number during regular business hours and for after-hours emergencies: 86-10-8531-4000, Email: amcitbeijing@state.gov.  The Embassy’s website is beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn. 

U.S. Consulate General Chengdu:  Number 4, Lingshiguan Road, Section 4, Renmin Nanlu, Chengdu 610041, tel. 86-28-8558-3992, Email: consularchengdu@state.gov.  For after-hours emergencies, please call 86-28-1370-800-1422.

U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou:  The Consular Section is located at 5th Floor, Tianyu Garden (II phase), 136-146 Lin He Zhong Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510133, tel. (86-20) 8518-7605, Email: GuangzhouACS@state.gov.  Guangzhou adoptions Email: GuangzhouA@state.gov.  For after-hours emergencies, please call 86-20-8121-8000.

U.S. Consulate General Shanghai:  The Consular Section is located in the Westgate Mall, 8th Floor, 1038 Nanjing Xi Lu, Shanghai 200041; tel. (86-21) 3217-4650, Email: Shanghaiacs@state.gov.  For after-hours emergencies, please call 86-21-6433-3936.

U.S. Consulate General Shenyang:  No. 52, 14th Wei Road, Heping District, Shenyang 110003; tel. (86-24) 2322-1198, Email: ShenyangACS@state.gov.  For after-hours emergencies, please call 86-24-137-0988-9307.