Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This week, *60 Million Consumers* reveals the presence of heavy metals in costume jewelry from popular retailers. While quantities are limited, our findings serve as a crucial reminder for shoppers to stay informed about what they wear.
For its latest issue, on newsstands this Thursday, 60 Million Consumers analyzed the composition of several costume jewelry items. They found heavy metals in limited quantities.
Heavy metals in costume jewelry. This is what 60 Million Consumers detected during analyses conducted for its latest issue, on newsstands this Thursday. To carry out its investigation, the magazine purchased twelve pairs of earrings and eight bracelets from stores such as Asos, Balaboosté, Claire’s, Forever 21, H&M, and Primark.
Lead and cadmium, albeit in quantities below regulatory limits, and nickel were found. On one of the twenty jewelry items, a Primark ear stud, the nickel content exceeded the authorized limit values.
However, even though concentrations remain within the norm almost all the time, the magazine regrets the presence of these heavy metals “at low, even extremely low, values, but with differences from one store to another that can reach up to 100 times or more, which proves that it is possible to have much less.”
Moreover, lead and cadmium are materials that accumulate in the body. They can enter through inhalation, ingestion, and (more rarely) through the skin. According to the World Health Organization, lead is particularly harmful to young children, whose brain and nervous system development can be affected. Cadmium has toxic effects on the kidneys, skeleton, and respiratory system and is classified as carcinogenic to humans. Finally, nickel is an allergen. 12% of the population may be sensitive to it, specifies 60 Million Consumers.
The magazine also points out several jewelry items that were supposed to be nickel-free but actually contain it.
Some jewelry that should not contain nickel (such as those in rhodium-plated 925 silver) sometimes even contains more than those whose composition is not mentioned. This is an obvious problem for people who are allergic to it.
Faced with these anomalies, the magazine recommends prioritizing the purchase of quality jewelry, especially for young children.
Charlotte ANGLADE