Safe Jewelry Act Clears California Senate Committee and Would Create Strictest Lead and Cadmium Limits in the Nation

Earlier this year the California Senate Committee on Environmental Quality cleared the Safe Jewelry Act (SB 647). It would create the country’s strictest limits on cadmium and lead in jewelry if signed into law. The authors of the bill state that it would align California’s lead and cadmium jewelry law with the current science and standards on the toxicity of lead and cadmium, which is significantly more advanced than when the state first passed a law regarding metal-containing jewelry more than a dozen years ago.

The bill would revise and recast the hazardous waste control provisions relating to lead and cadmium standards for jewelry by changing the lead content limit in children’s jewelry to .01% (100 parts per million (ppm)) of lead by weight, excluding inaccessible component parts. It would also create surface coating limits in children’s jewelry of .009 (90 ppm) of lead by weight and .0075 percent (75 ppm) of cadmium by weight. The lead content limits in adult jewelry for electroplated metal, unplated metal and dye or surface coating would change to .05% (500 ppm) of lead by weight.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports that lead has been found in inexpensive children’s jewelry sold in vending machines across the country. It also has been found in inexpensive metal amulets worn for good luck or protection. Some costume jewelry designed for adults have also been found to contain lead.

“Although SB 647 is reported to likely not be taken up in the current session according to some media outlets, it has already focused much needed attention on testing jewelry and other consumer goods that could pose a threat to consumers due to the presence of heavy metals,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “In recent years most of the jewelry containing lead and cadmium has been imported into the U.S. from countries lacking strict laws or enforcement regarding the use of these metals.”

Jewelry and other consumer product manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, government agencies and the public can turn to the experts at LA Testing for answers to lead and cadmium questions. They offer testing services to protect consumers and these same services also help the industry by identifying hazards before products reach consumers to prevent costly recalls and potential litigation against companies linked to products with elevated levels of toxic heavy metals.

To learn more about lead, cadmium or other consumer product testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego and Ontario.

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