Cheap jewelry potentially lethal

Low-grade jewellery good for pocket book, bad for children

Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 26/01) - Health Canada is advising people to discard cheap jewelry after a nationwide study discovered high lead levels in earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings and broaches retailing for less than $20.

Facts How it happens: a child chews on jewelry containing lead. Saliva transfers the sinister substance into the bloodstream and attacks any number of organs. Acute symptoms: severe abdominal pain, diarhhea, nausea, vomiting, headaches, irritability, lack of attention, headaches, seizures. Chronic symptoms: learning disability, hyperactivity, developmentally delayed, hearing loss. Treatment: chelation therapy. Administered by mouth or injection, the patient receives the anti-toxic agent which bonds to lead molecules and leaves removes it from the body via the urinary system. The process may be lengthy and painful and typically requires hospitalization. (The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 1999)

The hazard occurs when a child chews on lead-based products, often coated with enamel, for extended time periods.

Exposure may cause brain damage, paralysis or hearing loss.

No such cases are known in Yellowknife, however, local public health officials and child care agencies are on alert.

Early Childhood co-ordinator for the Education, Culture and Employment department Gillian Moir will consult Health Canada.

"Our concern is that young people are kept away from any potential chocking hazards like jewelry, barrettes or bobbles," she says.

Yellowknife Daycare Association operator Edna Childs is discarding the suspect pieces.

"We have some. If there's is a problem with them of course we'll throw it out," Childs says. "We have to."

Health Canada issued the advisory after a five-year-old Calgary girl was diagnosed with lead poisoning in 1998. A cross-country study wrapped up late last year after the girl's father alerted the authorities about a lead broach his daughter gnawed on.

Significant amounts of lead cannot be absorbed by wearing the jaded jewelry, thus pregnant women and other adults are not at risk, says Health Canada product safety officer Joyce Woron.

Damage is caused when lead enters the bloodstream via saliva.

Health Canada issued a strongly worded recommendation to 8,000 Canadian retailers about labeling the potentially dangerous items this month.

Lead core candle wicks were added to the list.

"Unfortunately most of these products have no markings," Woron says.

Pencils are not included because they no longer contain lead.

Kids First Child Development Centre learned of the warning earlier this month. Manager Glenda Peddle says all their toy jewelry is plastic or wood.

Manufacturers, national or foreign, are under no legal obligation to label lead-containing products.

"If people don't know if it's in an item or not they should remove it from their children to be on the safe side," Woron says. The advisory is good news for jewellers, many who were unaware of the advisory but hope it will mean an increase in sales.

Health Canada is pushing for a lead ban on all consumer products, Woron says.

Consumers are encouraged to ask retailers if products contain the deadly metal.

A child with suspected lead poisoning should be taken to a doctor or hospital immediately.

For more information, go to Health Canada's Web site.