Lead is a neuro-toxin. Lead is toxic in high doses and can cause mental retardation in children. Health records indicate 20,000 children were hospitalized between 2000 and 2005 because they swallowed jewelry. Lead in children's jewelry is especially dangerous, since children frequently chew on, and even swallow, small items. Ingesting lead can lead to seizures, respiratory failure and death. source: consumeraffairs.com CEH or the Center for Environmental Health settled a suit in California with 71 major retailers in Jan, 06. The suit started in '03 and although the agreement to reformulate the materials only applies to California, it had a phase in period that is quoted from their website as..."The agreement requires that no company can ship lead-tainted children's jewelry to a retail store after February 1, 2007, and cannot ship any lead-tainted jewelry after August 1, 2007. It also requires that retailers must stop selling lead- tainted children's jewelry by September 1, 2007, and must stop selling all non-compliant jewelry by March 1, 2008". "Under the settlement terms, metal components in and coatings on children’s jewelry must contain less than 600 parts per million (ppm) of lead, while plastic (PVC) components can contain no more than 200 ppm".
Documentation reveals that serious behavioral problems and learning disabilities are seven times more likely to occur in children exposed to low-levels of lead over an extended period of time (New England Journal of Medicine- Jan. 11, 1990). More recent studies indicate that there is no threshold for the toxic effects of lead. (New England Journal of Medicine April 17, 2003) Apparently the 600 parts per million (PPM) that the CPSC uses is based on a 25 year old standard for paint. Recent congressional work is proposing a level of 100PPM within the next few years. That's what I'm using for a "Lead Safe" or what the government calls "Lead Free" level.
As far as any of your customers know from all the recalls by no-name and major brands, anything from China probably has lead in it and it will hurt their kids. This is not good! Your probably asking yourself "why all the lead!". The answer is simpler than you might think. It is cheap, it makes machines run smoother and it just has some qualities that work to make certain colors and hardening easier. Further more most of the world outside of the US just doesn't consider it as big a danger. On average I've found that lead safe raw materials cost only 10% more.
Is it a bunch of lawyers using our country to make a buck? I don't know, but the cat is out of the bag and it's very unlikely to go away. I wouldn't be letting my son get near some of the stuff I've seen fail testing.
How does it affect my store?
Many concerned parents that have a child possibly swallow any missing bits will be visiting your local cable TV advertising lawyer. They will naturally go after the deepest and easiest to plunder pockets. If you don't make reasonable efforts to insure your stock is lead safe, you may be liable. Even if our insurance companies fight these battles, all our insurance costs will rise. Let's face it none of us want to be listed as the source of recalled "Deadly" product on the local or national news! It pays to be Lead Safe.
Some legal services offered online...
Ashcraft and Gerel - Nationwide Lawsuits - Brain Damaged Children - Millions in Settlements
Understanding Lead Pigment Litigation - Home... made lead pigment, have been the target of scores of lawsuits. ... Dec 13, 2007
Lead paint ruling could lead to more lawsuits, experts say - Boston.com
How do I protect customers and my business?
Ask your vendors if they will guarantee ALL of their goods are lead free. If you get a long pause or a stuttered answer then you TEST the goods or ask to return. If they are clear and offer prompt help with the issue, they are probably on top of the issue proactively. If you don't push it here, they won't push the issue and test with the factory. We test everything before we take delivery. We have since day one. We don't have a warehouse full of leaded product to sell off to the unsuspecting stores. Unfortunately many of the jewelry vendors in the country are sitting on millions of dollars in lead DANGEROUS jewelry. So ask them! Will they GUARANTEE ALL of their jewelry is lead safe?
Monster Trendz will guarantee all of our products are lead safe or we will take back everything for a full refund. We'll even send the call tag to pick it up. Many of our fully assembled jewelry items we have tested as they are, but most are assembled from our parts that our bought and specifically tested before assembly into jewelry. If needed we will accommodate you with whatever tests you may need. Ask for a free LeadCheck test swab with your order!
Where can I learn more?
Center for Environmental Health (CEH)
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Toy Industry Association (TIA)
Leadcheck single use test swabs
CEH Consumer suggestions sheet (PDF)
CPSC testing standards (PDF)
California Dept of Toxic substances
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Please, call M-F, 9-5pm EST with any questions or comments.
We will be happy to help you
Tel 866 365 6425
or for international calls 603 617 2845
Fax 603 617 2846
The Monster Team 
One Washington Street #570, Dover, NH 03820
All Monster Trendz products are guaranteed lead safe
