Scientists from California’s Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) say they have uncovered inexpensive children’s and religious jewelry that contains dangerously high amounts of lead.
The DTCC says it is actively monitoring children’s jewelry to test for lead levels, in compliance with the State’s Lead Containing Jewelry Law.
The jewelry in question was discovered in warehouses in southern California, the DTSC said. Some of it was imported from China and was packaged with labels that called it “lead free.” However, an analysis by the Department of Toxic Substances Control’s Environmental Chemistry Laboratory showed some of the jewelry contained lead that exceeded California’s regulatory limit.
In one example cited by the agency, a children’s wooden angel pendant necklace contained 736,000 parts per million lead (nearly 74% lead). In addition, an adult turquoise stone pendant necklace contained 710,000 parts per million. The jewelry includes items with religious images such as medallions and crosses.
DTSC investigators are working with distributors to voluntarily remove the products from the shelves, the agency said. DTSC is urging consumers to return any of these items to the place of purchase and to keep them away from children.

JCK