As girls, we love to shop at Aeropostale, Forever 21, or Target for cheap earring studs, bangle bracelets or a cocktail rings. But you may rethink cheap jewelry after hearing about this lawsuit.
26 big-name retail companies, including The Gap, Banana Republic, and Forever 21 recently settled in a lawsuit made by an environmental group over unsafe levels of cadmium in their jewelry. A federal judge approved a 0.03% limit- all but banning the use of cadmium in jewelry by Dec. 31.
But what exactly is cadmium and why should you avoid it?
Cadmium is a heavy metal commonly used in batteries, plastics, paints, and metal plating. It’s also used as an alternative to lead in inexpensively adding shape and weight to jewelry. Cadmium is being used less often in the manufacture of products in this country because of its toxicity. But controversy about the health dangers of cadmium started making headlines last year when a report was released stating that Chinese jewelry manufacturers who imported jewelry into the country were substituting cadmium for lead in cheap jewelry, and in particular, in children’s jewelry sold in shops like Claire’s.
But this dangerous material was also found in jewelry sold at retail chains popular with adults. A total of 26 retailers and suppliers were involved in the settlement, including Aeropostale Inc., American Eagle Outfitters Inc., Wet Seal Inc., Hot Topic Inc. and Saks Inc.
Exposure to cadmium increases the risk of kidney disease, genetic problems, and even cancer. Treatment of cadmium poisoning is most effective when discovered early on but, as if these effects weren’t scary enough, there is no known cure.
All of the companies were found to have sold jewelry containing high levels of cadmium in the last year and a half, according to Charles Margulis, a spokesman for the Center for Environmental Health, the Oakland-based nonprofit group which sued the companies after it bought and tested the jewelry.
In addition to these new regulations, the companies also agreed to pay a total of $1.03 million to cover jewelry testing, future compliance testing, and legal costs to the environmental group.
So what do you collegiettes™ think? Does this change your shopping plans when it comes to cheap jewelry? Share your thoughts in the comments box below!