Rudolph the Cadmium-Nosed Reindeer

theodp writes "Barred from using lead in children's jewelry because of its toxicity, some Chinese manufacturers have been substituting the more dangerous heavy metal cadmium in sparkling charm bracelets and shiny pendants being sold throughout the US, an AP investigation shows. Charms from 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' bracelets were measured at between 82 and 91 percent cadmium, and leached so much cadmium that they would have to be specially handled and disposed of under US environmental law if they were waste from manufacturing. Cadmium, a known carcinogen, can hinder brain development in the very young. 'There's nothing positive that you can say about this metal. It's a poison,' said the CDC's Bruce Fowler. On the CDC's priority list of 275 most hazardous substances in the environment, cadmium ranks No. 7. Jewelry industry veterans in China say cadmium has been used in domestic products there for years. Hey, at least it doesn't metabolize into GHB when the little tykes ingest it."

Comments

Re:REGULATORS!

[ThatMegathronDude]

yummy

Re:Well that's *very* comforting

[robogun]

The US did the same thing through its industrial phase. There are still disasters like the Love Canal all over the country scheduled for Superfund cleanup. Take a look at the map for one near you.

Re:And this is why not to buy Chinese....

[santax]

Thanks for clearing that one up for me. That price sounds a lot more reasonable.