Officers from Essex Trading Standards have seized ‘toxic jewellery’ during an inspection at Stansted Airport, and are warning consumers to be aware of the potential risks of buying cheap jewellery from unknown or disreputable sources.
The consignment of earrings included items that contained more than 7,000 times the legal amount of cadmium – a soft metal which can cause damage to the kidney and lungs, as well as an increased risk of cancer. It is also harmful to the environment.
Tests of other items in the shipment revealed that they contained potentially dangerous amounts of nickel, which can cause skin rashes and itching.
Both cadmium and nickel are cumulative toxins which can cause health problems as a result of long and repeated exposure to the skin – as is particularly likely to be the case when they are used in jewellery manufacture.
A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “Our advice is to avoid cheap jewellery, often made with low-quality materials, and to buy from reputable sources.
“Many jewellery manufacturers have strict quality control processes in place to ensure their products are safe for consumers. Look for jewellery from well-known brands or companies that have a good reputation for quality.”
Essex Trading Standards routinely examine goods which enter the country via Stansted Airport, ensuring the safety of products including cosmetics, electrical items and jewellery.
