In what may become the biggest defective products safety scare since lead paint on children's toys, dangerous cadmium levels in children's themed jewelry again made headlines in Philadelphia today. In the latest action by federal regulators since high levels of cadmium were first discovered in metal children's jewelry earlier this year (see our January 13 post), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ordered a recall of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer charm bracelets. Sold in Philadelphia dollar stores and discount chains from 2006 until now, the chain link bracelets feature charms depicting characters from the classic holiday television film interspersed with snowflakes and candy canes. Federal regulators told Philadelphia parents to throw the dangerous bracelets away .
Highly toxic cadmium is a known carcinogen and can cause irreparable damage to kidneys and bones and may affect brain development. The metal is particularly dangerous to children whose bodies are still developing. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer bracelets exhibited alarmingly high levels of toxic cadmium in government lab tests. When high cadmium levels in children's jewelry were first revealed as part of an Associated Press investigation published in January, lab tests commissioned by the Associated Press showed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer bracelets to be 91% cadmium.
Just last month, the Commission recalled Disney The Princess and the Frog charm bracelets sold in Wal-Mart stores for high cadmium levels (see our February 8 post). In both instances, the jewelry was manufactured in China. Chinese manufacturers use cadmium because of its low raw material cost and malleability at low temperatures, both of which decrease production costs and increase the manufacturers' profit.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission continues to investigate potentially toxic children's jewelry being sold in Philadelphia but has not widened its investigation to include metal toys that may also pose a dangerous cadmium risk to Philadelphia children. If you are concerned about the effect of defective products on your children, contact a Philadelphia personal injury attorney to discuss your rights.
