Cancer-Causing Metal Found in National Retailers’ Jewelry

Jewelry found on the shelves of huge national retailers—such Ross, Nordstrom Rack, and Papaya—contains the toxic cancer-causing metal cadmium, the Associated Press reports. Research carried out by the nonprofit Center for Environmental Health shows that some jewelry sold with dresses and shirts is nearly pure cadmium, which is known to cause cancer and reproductive harm after prolonged exposure. Some states have banned the metal from being used in children’s jewelry, but there are no laws preventing it from being used in jewelry for adults. Lab testing found 31 adult jewelry items purchased from retail stores were at least 40 percent cadmium, and most were more than 90 percent. Most of the tainted items were sold at Ross, with one pendant from a necklace chain being 100 percent cadmium. The company said it has “addressed this issue with our supplier.”