Children's bracelet recall: high levels of cadmium pose health risk for children

Children's bracelets recalled

 

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The CPSC has issued a warning on children's bracelets that were sold for around $1 a piece in discount and dollar store chains.

High levels of cadmium have been found in these holiday-themed bracelets. They should be disposed of immediately.

The importer for the bracelets is Buy-Rite Designs, of Freehold, N.J. The company is out of business so you won't get your $1 back if you bought one, but it's important to take this away from your child immediately.

The bracelets contain high levels of cadmium. Laboratory analysis determined that following a 24-hour incubation in simulated stomach acid, over 20,000 micrograms of cadmium were released from the snowman alone.

Cadmium can be toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. Cadmium and several cadmium-containing compounds are known carcinogens and can induce many types of cancer. Cadmium and its compounds are extremely toxic even in low concentrations.

A report in the US News & World Reports gave more information about the dangers of cadmium in children's jewelry:

"Cadmium can cause cancer and kidney problems but has rarely been associated with children's health issues because most poisonings happen in men who work in smelting ore or recycling batteries. "Hopefully, it's not going to become a health issue in pediatrics," says John Rosen, a lead expert at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. But it looks as though he's going to have to add it to the list of potential problems, at least for now. His clinic staff shows parents a photo album of lead-contaminated jewelry, Rosen says. "We tell parents to stay out of dollar stores who sell those types of cheap trinkets."

There are no records of any children who have become sick from this, but as a precaution, it's important to throw these bracelets away.

Which bracelets are affected?

This warning involves Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer brand children’s Christmas and winter-themed bracelets. The two styles involved in this notice are the Bumble Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The bracelets were sold with winter and Christmas-themed charms including a snowman, Christmas tree, candy cane and snowflake.

Where were they sold?

Many discount and dollar-type stores nationwide sold these bracelets between 2006 and March 2009 for about $1.