Probe into U.S. claims of toxic jewelry
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Officials from the country's top quality watchdog yesterday said the agency would look into the alleged toxic Chinese-made children's jewelry reported in the United States, adding that more information is necessary.
The US-based Associated Press reported on Monday that test results on some made-in-China children's jewelry found high levels of the heavy metal cadmium in the products. Cadmium, which is used in batteries, carries a threat to the health of consumers.
Officials from US retail giant Wal-Mart said the jewelry would be pulled from its shelves, and Claire's, a jewelry retailer, followed suit on Tuesday, according to US media reports.
"We've heard about it and are looking for more information," an official in charge of toy safety with the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), surnamed Song, said over the phone yesterday.
"And we need to find out whether the accused products came out of China through legal means," he said.
Wang Xin, director of AQSIQ's department of supervision on inspection, who was in Hong Kong to attend a toy safety conference, also told AP: "We just heard about this, and we will investigate."
A staffer surnamed Zhang at the China Toy Association said the association received calls from several media organizations asking for a response on the issue.
"But without solid facts and detailed information, we are unable to comment," she said.
However, primary interviews indicate neither China nor the US have specific regulations on cadmium limits in consumer goods.
Song said such children's jewelry is so far not on China's statutory inspection catalogue, which means tests on these products are not mandatory at borders.
The US-based Seattle Times also reported that the US federal government has never recalled any item for its cadmium content.
"If the cadmium-laden jewelry were industrial garbage, it could qualify as hazardous waste. But since there are no cadmium restrictions on jewelry, such items are sold legally," the report said.
The jewelry testing was conducted for the AP, in which 103 pieces of cheap children's jewelry were tested. Among them, 12 had more than 10 percent of cadmium in total weight, and two had less than 10 percent. A total of 89 pieces were free from cadmium.
AP said cadmium is poisonous to humans. It may hinder brain development in young children. In the worst-case scenarios, it might lead to cancer, kidneys that leak vital protein and bones that spontaneously snap.
The report also said the tests were conducted by chemistry professor Jeff Weidenhamer of Ashland University in Ohio, who previously provided the US government with results of products containing high lead that were later recalled.
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