Shops Accept Limits On New Health Metals In Jewelry

A group of environmental monitoring, said Tuesday a settlement with 26 major jewelry stores and suppliers of "strict limitations" in the amount of cadmium in the jewelry sold throughout the country.

The agreement consists of Oakland-based Environmental Health Center and companies such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Target, Gap (including the brands Old Navy and Banana Republic) and Forever 21. Jewelry stores sold is expected to contain more than 300 parts per million of cadmium to December 31.

"We welcome this strong effort that will protect our children and our families against the health risks of an unnecessary risk in jewelry," said Michael Green, executive director of the environmental group. "It's important are the companies that go beyond the law in California agreed to ask their suppliers to provide them with jewels reformulated the country."

He said the solution to Proposition 65 to force the companies to pay just over $ 1 million. The money is used to test the jewels under the contract, to pay the bills legal environment, and other objects.

In court documents, the companies denied any wrongdoing.

Green group began to pursue jewelry vendors and suppliers in February 2010, based on what he said was high levels of cadmium found in jewelry. Cadmium is a heavy metal linked to cancer and kidney damage.

The environmental center is one of the most active groups in the state to use Proposition 65 to force changes in consumer products. A key element of the 1986 Act put the onus on companies to show their products are safe or warn customers.

More than 840 substances "known to the State of California" to cause cancer or reproductive harm, up to 30 in 1987. One count, more than 12,000 types of consumer products is a direct result of Prop 65 warnings, and an unknown number of others have been modified before being challenged in court.