KINGSTON (Jan. 21, 2010) − If in doubt, throw it out.

That’s the message from a local child safety group, which is sounding the alarm about toxic cadmium contained in children’s jewelry made in China.

“We are urging parents to look through their children’s jewelry collections and get rid of any cheap trinket jewelry they suspect could contain cadmium,” said Attorney Michelle Quinn, spokeswoman for the Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn Fund for Children’s Advocacy, also known as HKQ Kids. “If in doubt, throw it out or return it to the store where you bought it."

Attorney Quinn said that while it’s hard to tell which jewelry contains cadmium without scientific testing, parents should look for cheap jewelry with molded metal trinkets or charms (they can be painted). She said small children who are prone to putting items in their mouths, suck on them or swallow them are particularly susceptible to exposure.

She said cadmium is a known carcinogen that can hinder brain development in the very young, according to recent research. Children don't have to swallow an item to be exposed - they can get persistent, low-level doses by regularly sucking or biting jewelry with high cadmium content. On the CDC's priority list of 275 most hazardous substances in the environment, cadmium ranks No. 7.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has launched an investigation into the cadmium-tainted jewelry, and lawmakers on Capitol Hill are rushing to extend a federal ban on lead in children’s products to include cadmium. The lead ban went into effect last year after high amounts of the toxic metal were found in scores of popular children’s toys made in China, but some Chinese manufacturers apparently have switched to cadmium as a substitute.

The Associated Press recently bought more than 100 pieces of children's jewelry made in China and sold at Wal-Mart and other retailers around the country. Twelve percent of the trinkets contained at least 10 percent cadmium, but Disney's “Princess and the Frog” pendants came in between 25 percent to 35 percent cadmium. A Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer charm contained 91 percent cadmium.

“It’s absolutely outrageous that only months after the lead ban went into effect, Chinese toy makers switched to cadmium,” said Attorney Quinn. “Cadmium is a highly toxic metal that has no place whatsoever in children’s products.”

HKQ Kids, which is administered by the Luzerne Foundation, was founded in 2005 by the law firm of Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn to promote public awareness of issues affecting the safety of children in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and sponsor programs to educate parents, children, educators and the general public about child safety hazards.

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