Lead in Children's Jewelry: Regulations and Test Results Regulatory Action on Lead in Children's Jewelry   Jewelry Lead Test Results:   August 2008 [Press Release]   July 2008   June 2008   April 2008 [Press Release]   January 2008   December 2007[Press Release]   November 2007   October 2007   September 2007   August 2007   July 2007 [Press Release]   June 2007   May 2007   April 2007 [Press Release]   March 2007 [Press Release]   February 2007 [Press Release]   Summer 2006 [Press Release]

Some jewelry marketed for young children has been found to contain dangerous amounts of lead--a neurotoxin that can cause severe illness and even death at high doses and cognitive impairment and other neurological problems at lower doses.

 

To respond to this threat, the Health Department has issued a Regulatory Action on Lead in Children's Jewelry. (Click here to read the Regulatory Action). The regulation states that the Commissioner of Health has determined that any piece of children’s jewelry with a metal component part containing lead in excess of 600 parts per million is a threat to public health. 600 parts per million is the same standard as lead in paint.

 

The regulation provides a timeline for manufacturers and distributors to meet the new standard. Effective immediately, the regulation prohibits the sale and distribution in Baltimore City of children’s jewelry with metal components containing lead in excess of 1200 parts per million. As of September 1, 2007, this limit will drop to 600 parts per million, in concert with legislation taking effect in California.

 

The Health Department will conduct routine testing of children's jewelry each month and post the results of those tests on this webpage.

Testing Reveals Items of Children’s Jewelry with Excess Lead
January 31, 2008. The Baltimore City Health Department has issued a violation notice to a business prohibiting the sale of a children’s jewelry product that was identified with a lead level in metal components above 600 parts per million. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has been alerted. [Press Release]

 

Spiderman 3 Ring Found with Very High Lead Levels

August 2, 2007. The Baltimore City Health Department has issued a violation notice to a business prohibiting the sale of a flashing Spiderman 3 Ring that was identified with lead levels in metal components far above the legal limit in Baltimore City of 1200 parts per million. The Spiderman insignia contains 12.8% lead by weight. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has been notified. [Press Release]