Minnesota Bans Cadmium in Children’s Jewelry

Minnesota has become the first state to ban cadmium in children’s jewelry,
according to MJSA.
 
The state law limits the toxic metal to 75 parts per million in any surface
coating or accessible substrate of a piece of jewelry. It went into effect for
manufacturers on products they sell after Jan. 1. It becomes effective for
retailers offering children’s jewelry for sale after March 1.
 
Companies are required to measure the amount of cadmium in jewelry using ASTM
standard F 963, according to the new Minnesota law. The standard contains a
testing protocol that measures the amount that a heavy metal, such as cadmium,
can “migrate” or leach out of a sample of jewelry over a two-hour
period, when the sample is immersed in a solution that simulates digestive
acid. Because children’s exposure to cadmium usually occurs when they suck,
chew, or swallow metal jewelry, the test works to replicate these conditions.
 
A similar law in Illinois will go into effect on July 1. Like Minnesota,
Illinois will similarly limit cadmium to 75 ppm, using the ASTM F 963 testing
protocol.
 
Two other states, California and Connecticut, have also passed legislation banning cadmium in children’s
jewelry, but those laws will not take effect until 2012 and 2014, respectively.
 
For more information on cadmium in jewelry, click here.

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