Cadmium in Children's Jewellery Products

October 2010

What is cadmium?

Cadmium is a heavy metal which is known to be more toxic than lead.

What are the health risks?

Cadmium is a known carcinogen. There is no known risk to health from simply wearing jewellery made with high levels of cadmium; however, Health Canada's risk assessment has concluded that there is foreseeable potential for sucking, chewing or swallowing of such jewellery which may lead to serious health effects from cadmium exposure.

What is Health Canada Doing?

• Health Canada has requested that industry voluntarily stop production, importation and sale of children's jewellery made with the intentional use of cadmium or cadmium-containing materials, and will closely be monitoring compliance.
• To help provide consumers with information, on May 17, 2010, Health Canada posted on its website an Advisory regarding both lead and cadmium in children's jewellery.
• Health Canada has also carried out a national marketplace survey for children's jewellery. All samples obtained were tested by Health Canada's Product Safety Laboratory for both lead and cadmium and the test results will contribute to Health Canada's knowledge of the use of cadmium and in children's jewellery.
• There is a mandatory limit of 600 mg/kg total lead and 90 mg/kg migratable lead for all children's jewellery items marketed in Canada. Use of cadmium as a substitute for lead in children's jewellery marketed in Canada is not acceptable because this heavy metal also poses significant health risks to children.
• At the present time, Health Canada is working to identify what additional appropriate measures may be required. The first step is to determine what (if any) level of cadmium would be acceptable in children's jewellery items. Health Canada is currently working with its international partners to undertake this work.

Visit Health Canada's website for more information on checking children's jewellery for safety.