Smile Makers Recalls Children’s Jewelry for Toxic Cadmium
SmileMakers Inc., of Spartanburg, S.C. is recalling about 66,200 Children’s Happy Charm Bracelets and 2,200 Football Rings because the metal substrate in the jewelry contains high levels of cadmium, which is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects, announced the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC).
Made in China and imported by Toy Network, of Indianola, Iowa and Fun Express Oriental Trading Company, of Omaha, Neb., the affected jewelry was distributed at doctor and dentist offices nationwide from June 2005 through March 2010 free of charge.
This recalled “Happy” charm bracelet is comprised of colorful beads on a small elastic band to which a metal charm in the shape of a butterfly, moon or sun is attached. The football ring is a small adjustable metal band and a football charm (made of metal) is on it.
Although no injuries have been reported, consumers should immediately take the recalled jewelry away from children and discard the product.
Cadmium, a known carcinogen, is a whitish, soft metal that occurs naturally in soil. It is possibly best known as half of rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, but is also used in pigments, plastic, and electroplating. However, cadmium can interfere with brain development in very young children and long-term exposure can lead to bone softening and kidney failure.
The toxic metal is listed as No.7 on the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) priority list of 275 most hazardous substances in the environment. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), cadmium’s toxicity is due to its low permissible exposure limit (PEL), which enables overexposure even when only trace cadmium quantities are present.
For additional information, contact SmileMakers toll-free at (877) 390-5470 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, visit the company’s website at www.smilemakers.com, or send email to product.questions@smilemakers.com
Posted on Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 at 8:25 pm under 