Slashdot Mirror
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."
How would you propose to pull that off without China pulling the plug on our economy, which they currently own? With but a few simple manipulations, they can send our currency into a wild freefall. It would be a war won without a shot.
Because everyone knows that Wikipedia is a great source and has a wonderful staff that is totally devoted to producing an unbiased, accurate website *eyeroll*.
Though, since we are going to play the Wikipedia game, you might want to read the last sentence of one of your own links.
"A total of 3.2 million – one in six U.S. factory jobs – have disappeared since the start of 2000."
*cue Price is Right fail music*