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Klobuchar Calls for Hearing on Dangerous Metal Found in Children's Jewelry

Acts to prevent Chinese toy manufacturers from substituting lead with cadmium, a known carcinogen

January 12, 2010

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar sent a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller urging a hearing on the use of cadmium, a poisonous metal, in children’s jewelry and toys manufactured in China.  Klobuchar also sent a letter to Inez Tenenbaum, Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, asking for a prompt investigation into this issue.

“There’s no excuse – toxic jewelry and toys need to be off our shores and out of our stores,” said Klobuchar.  “As a parent, I am outraged to hear that a metal more dangerous than lead could be found in children’s products.  Given the safety interests at stake, we need to conduct a full investigation into unsafe products from China and stop this once and for all.” 

Recent news reports indicate that Chinese toy manufacturers are now substituting lead with cadmium, a known carcinogen, in toys and jewelry being sold throughout the United States.  Although there are currently no cadmium restrictions on toys and jewelry, cadmium is a poison and if ingested, can hinder brain development and cause other health problems. 

Klobuchar, who serves on the Senate Commerce Committee, previously introduced a ban on lead in children’s toys – a provision that was included in the final Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.  Klobuchar introduced the federal lead ban following millions of recalls of toxic, lead-tainted toys, and the death of Jarnell Brown, a four-year-old boy from Minnesota who died after swallowing a toy charm made almost entirely of lead.

The full texts of Klobuchar’s letters are below:
January 12, 2010

Jay Rockefeller
Chairman
Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
508 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Rockefeller:

I write to you today about recent news reports on the use of cadmium, a metal more dangerous than lead, in children’s toys.  As you know, I drafted the bill -- ultimately included in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) -- that set stringent standards on the amount of lead in children’s toys.  This tough standard was designed to protect our kids and it was particularly important to me and the State of Minnesota since a Minneapolis four-year-old, Jarnell Brown, died in 2006 from swallowing a charm made almost entirely of lead. 

Since Congress passed the CPSIA in 2008, toy manufacturers have drastically limited their use of lead and the number of toy recalls based on lead has decreased substantially.  At the same time, I am very concerned that some Chinese toy manufacturers are now substituting lead with cadmium, a known carcinogen, in toys and charms being sold throughout the United States.  Although there are currently no cadmium restrictions on toys and jewelry, cadmium is a poison and if ingested, can hinder brain development and lead to other health problems in children.  In short, this metal has no place in children’s toys.  

 I know that you share my concern about keeping unsafe toys off our shores and out of our stores.  Given the safety interests at stake, I urge the Committee to remain focused on unsafe products from China and to schedule a hearing on this issue.  Thank you for your consideration and for your continued leadership on these issues.   


Sincerely,



Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Senator



cc:    Senator Mark Pryor


January 12, 2010

Inez Tenenbaum
Chairman
Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814

Dear Chairman Tenenbaum:

I write to you today about recent news reports on the use of cadmium, a metal more dangerous than lead, in children’s toys.  As you know, I drafted the bill -- ultimately included in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) -- that set stringent standards on the amount of lead in children’s toys.  This tough standard was designed to protect our kids and it was particularly important to me and the State of Minnesota since a Minneapolis four-year-old, Jarnell Brown, died in 2006 from swallowing a charm made almost entirely of lead. 

Since Congress passed the CPSIA in 2008, toy manufacturers have drastically limited their use of lead and the number of toy recalls based on lead has decreased substantially.  At the same time, I am very concerned that some Chinese toy manufacturers are now substituting lead with cadmium, a known carcinogen, in toys and charms being sold throughout the United States.  Although there are currently no cadmium restrictions on toys and jewelry, cadmium is a poison and if ingested, can hinder brain development and lead to other health problems in children.  In short, this metal has no place in children’s toys.  

I know that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recently opened an investigation into the use of cadmium in children’s toys and jewelry.  I urge the Commission to complete its investigation thoroughly and promptly, take any appropriate action and report on its findings to Congress.  The safety of our children demands nothing less.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.



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