Another lead question?

[jayval]

I know swarovski crystals are not recommended for children under 12, I know they have lead and that is part of the reason, but why 12? Would a 12 yr old ever ingest a crystal?? If anyone can enlighten me that would be great....
Because I use swarovski crystals alot, should I mention somewhere that my jewelry is not recommended for children under 12??

[Former_Member]

I think they just had to draw the line somewhere, and 13 is considered a teenager. Probably couldn't hurt to mention that thy're not intended for ages 12 and under.

[JansWearableJoy]

Yes, I believe Amy C is right. I've pulled all my crystal jewelry that was intended for children. I now make the crystal jewelry for adults or teens age 13 and up. I also state on these items that they are not intended for 12 and under. If a seller buys an adult necklace I don't have any control who they give it to, but I can issue the warning.

[Former_Member]

True that once the jewelry leaves you that you do not have control over what the buyer does with it. However, you cannot make items that would appeal to children (think sw. crystal Disney characters or Hello Kitty or anything marketed towards kids).

I know those aren't great examples b/c of trademark issues, but you get the idea.

I'm also PicCircusDesigns and PiccadillyClips

[jayval]

Great ideas...Good to know

[Former_Member]

From what I understand.

Children under 12 years of age, their bodies are still maturing and can be harmed by any amount of lead that enters their bodies, even through touch.

So the Cpsia has barred children 12 and under from wearing any clothes, jewelry and playing with toys or riding bikes, etc. unless tested.

I know that we as parents want to protect our kids - (my kids are now adults) - But this law is just to difficult.

Well - that's my rant for now.

[jayval]

Thanks artisian!Thats what I was wondering

[JansWearableJoy]

My gosh, I must have been asleep at the wheel last nite, you probably guessed that I meant "buyer" not "seller". Sheeesh :)

[Former_Member]

better to mention it to a buyer...I know I would prefer to know

[GatheringSplendor]

issue a statment just to be safe--for yourself and children.

[Former_Member]

The reality... the crystals are WAY more of a chocking hazard than a lead issue. The lead in leaded crystal is so bound up on a molecular level, you could probably consume a jar-full of them and die of intestinal issues long before getting a blip on a lead-test. It's easy to single out Swarovski because lead is most definitely used to process colorless crystal and trace amounts do remain. I.E. it's not really a good idea to feed your kids their morning cereal every day out of great-grandma's leaded crystal bowls.

[MetalcuttersCache]

I think this is a knee jerk reaction to nothing.Swarovski is basically covering its hinter land.
I was a kid in the 50's. Lead paint everywhere,60's I was painting with lead paint & cleaning my hands with leaded gasoline! Everybody did. My dad worked over an open lead pot for 40 yrs. He died when he was 86 and his mind was sharp.Lead is not to be taken lightly, however the minute quantity possibly rubbed off a crystal is so small I doubt anyone but a space lab could measure it.Lead is most poisonous in a vapor state, stay downwind of old house/building fires. If a crystal is ingested by a youngun' , give him or her some bread and it will come out soon enough.Your chances of getting a lead poisoning is astonomical in odds.The most dangerous thing you do every day is driving. I think lead in Swarovski is your least worry.

[Former_Member]

I think supposedly has to do with the effects of lead and neurological development... lead and other things effects a developing brain differently than a developed brain... this is what my doctor said anyway...I'm not a doc :)

[Former_Member]

be careful with just issuing a warning, though -- if your items are clearly intended for kids (ie: smaller sizes, and/or kid-themed colors or figures), you can still get fined/sued/whatever. The written warning actually does nothing as far as the law is concerned.

sucks, but there it is.

[Former_Member]

mtlctr says:
I think this is a knee jerk reaction to nothing.Swarovski is basically covering its hinter land.
I was a kid in the 50's. Lead paint everywhere,60's I was painting with lead paint & cleaning my hands with leaded gasoline! Everybody did. My dad worked over an open lead pot for 40 yrs. He died when he was 86 and his mind was sharp.Lead is not to be taken lightly, however the minute quantity possibly rubbed off a crystal is so small I doubt anyone but a space lab could measure it.Lead is most poisonous in a vapor state, stay downwind of old house/building fires. If a crystal is ingested by a youngun' , give him or her some bread and it will come out soon enough.Your chances of getting a lead poisoning is astonomical in odds.The most dangerous thing you do every day is driving. I think lead in Swarovski is your least worry.
........................

Speaking of driving, my grandpa refused to wear his seatbelt because he thought the law was stupid, and he lived to be 85. (he died of cancer.) I guess that's proof positive that he was right, and obviously what worked for one person goes for everyone else too. Stupid parents buckling their kids into car seats, what a waste of time and money!

Honestly, I get so tired of the "hey, we all survived" arguments posted here. No. We didn't ALL survive. Lead was the number one cause of poisoning deaths in children during the 1940s. Now death by lead is very rare, because of all the research that has resulted in the tougher laws and lessened exposures.
Still, the chances of getting lead poisoning are NOT astronomical, the CDC estimates that a half million children in the U.S. have a high enough level of lead in their blood (10 ug/dL, the level the American Academy of Pediatrics defines as "poisoning") to cause adverse health affects, learning and behavioral disorders. That's down from 890,000 in 1995.

There's no known amount of lead that is too small to cause the body harm; lead builds up in our bodies with every exposure and is toxic to the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems.

In adults, the most common symptoms are abdominal pain, memory loss, kidney failure, male reproductive problems, and weakness, pain, or tingling in the extremities. (for starters. it gets worse from there.)

In children (with lower levels of exposure) it causes loss of appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, weight loss, constipation, anemia, kidney failure, irritability, lethargy, learning disabilities, behavior problems, hearing loss, delayed growth, drowsiness, clumsiness, or loss of new abilities, especially speech skills. With greater exposure comes permanent disability, seizures, and death. (you know, things that typically can't be cured by eating a slice of bread.)


http://scorecard.org/env-releases/def/lead_blood_levels.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning
http://dhs.wi.gov/lead/doc/Chap4Toxicology&Sources.pdf

[Former_Member]

amyblandford says:
mtlctr says:
I think this is a knee jerk reaction to nothing.Swarovski is basically covering its hinter land.
I was a kid in the 50's. Lead paint everywhere,60's I was painting with lead paint & cleaning my hands with leaded gasoline! Everybody did. My dad worked over an open lead pot for 40 yrs. He died when he was 86 and his mind was sharp.Lead is not to be taken lightly, however the minute quantity possibly rubbed off a crystal is so small I doubt anyone but a space lab could measure it.Lead is most poisonous in a vapor state, stay downwind of old house/building fires. If a crystal is ingested by a youngun' , give him or her some bread and it will come out soon enough.Your chances of getting a lead poisoning is astonomical in odds.The most dangerous thing you do every day is driving. I think lead in Swarovski is your least worry.
........................

Speaking of driving, my grandpa refused to wear his seatbelt because he thought the law was stupid, and he lived to be 85. (he died of cancer.) I guess that's proof positive that he was right, and obviously what worked for one person goes for everyone else too. Stupid parents buckling their kids into car seats, what a waste of time and money!

Honestly, I get so tired of the "hey, we all survived" arguments posted here. No. We didn't ALL survive. Lead was the number one cause of poisoning deaths in children during the 1940s. Now death by lead is very rare, because of all the research that has resulted in the tougher laws and lessened exposures.
Still, the chances of getting lead poisoning are NOT astronomical, the CDC estimates that a half million children in the U.S. have a high enough level of lead in their blood (10 ug/dL, the level the American Academy of Pediatrics defines as "poisoning") to cause adverse health affects, learning and behavioral disorders. That's down from 890,000 in 1995.

There's no known amount of lead that is too small to cause the body harm; lead builds up in our bodies with every exposure and is toxic to the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems.

In adults, the most common symptoms are abdominal pain, memory loss, kidney failure, male reproductive problems, and weakness, pain, or tingling in the extremities. (for starters. it gets worse from there.)

In children (with lower levels of exposure) it causes loss of appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, weight loss, constipation, anemia, kidney failure, irritability, lethargy, learning disabilities, behavior problems, hearing loss, delayed growth, drowsiness, clumsiness, or loss of new abilities, especially speech skills. With greater exposure comes permanent disability, seizures, and death. (you know, things that typically can't be cured by eating a slice of bread.)


http://scorecard.org/env-releases/def/lead_blood_levels.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning
http://dhs.wi.gov/lead/doc/Chap4Toxicology&Sources.pdf
------------------------
Thank you thank you for posting... I too grow very weary of this school of thought ... these laws are made for a reason and I personally as a Mom and happy that they exist :) thought it was just me :)