Amazon, Temu Jewellery Exceeds Toxic Cadmium Limits, Analysis Reveals
· Technology · BBC News, The Independent
A BBC Watchdog investigation analysed 25 jewellery items bought from Amazon, eBay, Temu, Etsy, and OnBuy, finding eight contained illegal levels of cadmium, a carcinogen. Laboratory tests by the Sheffield Assay Office showed three Amazon items, three Temu items, and one each from OnBuy and Etsy breached the legal limit of 0.01% cadmium, with some items containing up to 10%. Only two of the 25 items were classified as genuine sterling silver; the rest were cheaper alternatives. Of 25 items tested, only two qualified as sterling silver, while the remainder were cheaper metal substitutes.
Why it matters
Consumers buying inexpensive silver-coloured jewellery online risk prolonged skin exposure to cadmium and nickel, which can cause cancer and severe irritation; the findings underscore the need for stricter marketplace oversight and consumer awareness of material safety.
Read the original report — BBC News
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