Los Angeles (AP)--the Los Angeles more than a year of review and legal setbacks hammer, jewelry industry in the United States have agreed to limit voluntary children toxic metal cadmium-and adorn article, in the process, have helped to write what amount of new federal regulations its products.
The rules to join strewn at random have the mandatory restrictions, have prevent the use of heavy metals, with the passage of time, can cause cancer and other diseases, but is recorded death or serious injury. Although not voluntary standards, from state and laws ace of the residential more strict limits, they create a consensus of national standards, jewelry manufacturer and importers of recognition.
Due to the limit is voluntary, have sold jewelry and cadmium more than their level automatic punishment. However, the United States consumer product safety commission will use the limitations in decided whether to pursue product recalls.
The agency said, voluntary restrictions are appropriate-and the fastest-ways to create a problem of what constitutes a common understanding of the jewelry. The agency said it, unless it think generally failed to adhere to, but it won't seek mandatory rules.
Few countries have passed laws to deal with cadmium in the past year. The private sector as a nation, is to help fill the lack of specific federal limits left blank.
In the ap survey, the consumer products safety commission has recalled about 300000 units last year to help high cadmium necklace, bracelet and ring. The Associated Press reports that some jewelry is more than 90% of the cadmium, if swallowed will release the metal to stomach acid is surprisingly high level.
Problem jewelry, especially in China and is the whole market, from Walmarts specializes in jewelry store chain dollar.
Five recalled, the agency until decided how to deal with the problem. Last fall, the scientific research personnel to set guidelines, how to identify risk based on laboratory test of a piece of jewelry, how much cadmium into children will imitate the body, from jewelry, lick or swallowed. In this process, the agency to estimate how many cadmium children can safely absorb more than three times.
Above the level of test results jewelry might-or might not-trigger the agency requests the enterprise out of a project, from their shelves.
Is this just vague federal guidelines, promote the jewelry industry for predictable rules. Manufacturers and importers to abide by the new test requirements from different retailers, the restrictions, such as California and Illinois state--and was set at major retailers and environmental protection in recent court case restrictions.
An eclectic method is by jewelry industry veteran, including consumer advocate of people and representatives of the leadership lab tests a team with an overwhelming majority of approval.
The child's jewelry subcommittee of the independent panel, a respected organization set up a series of voluntary standard ASTM international commodity organizations under the banner of the meeting. The results, released last week by the consumer product complete ASTM approved by the committee on standards, it is also related to other potential harm of jewelry, such as lead and magnet.
According to ASTM method, the children's jewelry-for the project's defined "main purpose" for 12 years old of the following children-will be the first to laboratory for testing, see whether it contains more than 0.03% of the cadmium.
"The total content" test failed projects, can be cancelled or for further analysis to send. For minor part, and the second test instrument into the stomach how much cadmium soluble in a day after being swallowed the jewelry; Large, how many cadmium escape, under the condition of simulation test measures of extra lick.
The consumer products safety commission support this approach-and, in fact, ASTM standard reference from the agency of the security level and test methods.
Industrial wanted to stomach acid test, finally only need two hours, but eventually agreed to 24 hours, CPSC staff advocate. On the other side, CPSC refused to first choice of environmentalists and consumer advocate, who in favor of a more conservative standards, only to cadmium jewelry contains how much, it will release the method how much.
How to the consumer products safety commission currently adjustment result in a total content method is, in favor of congress after the cadmium waste metal, some jewelry manufacturer in 2008 through the strict limit the amount of lead in.
In the new voluntary standards "limit potential exposure to children's jewelry, ensure safety cause no cadmium products ban safe way," according to brent Cleaveland, ASTM group committee head, write rules and executive director of the jewelry fashion and accessories trade association. He described as "the way more than the necessary conservative."
No, the environment and health solitary opposition to the voters of the director of the center of voluntary standards research cox Caroline. Her Auckland dozens of stores, and organization in earlier this month found in jewelry to chain in cadmium, including the target company and Gap, agree they will not sell more than 0.03% of the law, cadmium jewelry, even small drain filter out.
Cox think ASTM process, a new jewels in the initial stomach acid test may fare fare sent many fine if swallowed the next several months of wear and tear. Tests show that, electroplating, or a piece of jewelry worn surface punctured, cadmium can dip in in the greater level.
If only 0.03%, cadmium limits standards, "we don't want there to be worried about all," cox said. "Let's just founded a total content standards, from the beginning, need to take care of the problem."
The consumer products safety commission chief sounded optimistic.
"ASTM a new children's jewelry cadmium standard approved is a positive step," the consumer products safety commission chairman in Iraq Tenebaum this in a written statement said. "It is very important, for ASTM also to finish their work and toys released as soon as possible new cadmium standards."




Other News:
Jewelry industry to self-regulate on toxic cadmium
House passes disaster aid, but Senate Dems object
Calif. grocery workers OK deal; strike averted
Stocks, euro turn higher on ECB easing hopes
Romney, Perry go after each other in GOP debate
Obama tells blacks to 'stop complainin' and fight
Obama sells jobs plan in Silicon Valley
VSSOD’s Business Agility Suite Certified as Powered by SAP NetWeaver