I used to be an avid jewelry maker. As a child, I remember going to bead and craft shows and checking out all the bright colors, fancy baubles, metal charms, and crystals. The shows were like a candy store to me as a kid.
I made jewelry for over ten years and gave pieces away to friends and family, who never asked questions about my sourcing. As a kid, I couldn’t afford sterling silver or stamped gold, so I bought beads marketed as “copper alloy, “nickel alloy,” or ”Tibetan silver,’ which sounded safe and ordinary. If there was lead in the product the seller would have mentioned it, right? Our government regulations protect us from toxic things, surely? I collected beads and findings from well-respected U.S. businesses, random eBay sellers operating out of China, local artisan craft booths and everything in between.
I’m an adult now. Specifically a skeptical, investigative adult and mother of young children. I’m here to tell you that if you work with beads and charms, or disassemble costume jewelry, or purchase random international or unbranded findings…and if you are NOT comfortable wearing lead weights around your neck, or if children visit your home or are likely to interact with your jewelry…throw that junk out today.
Lead and Cadmium Results for Seven Beads and Clasps
I randomly selected seven bead packs from my childhood beading collection…ranging from sterling silver to hand-blown artisan glass, crystal, gold plated clasps, and so on. Dates of purchase range from approximately 2000 (the crystal) to 2018 (the magnetic clasps). All items were purchased new. I expected two or three beads to test positive for lead, the crystal and perhaps a colorant in the glass. And I expected the lead levels to be trace in the metals, perhaps around 2%, to assist with machinability.
But these examples turned out to be far nastier than I expected. Some of the beads are over 25% lead, and not even the silver or nickel plated findings from big retailers are lead free. Only one sample, a plain silver toned crimp bead made from a non-silver alloy, tested non-detect for lead and cadmium.
I have found that jewelry making components have toxic materials, at a high frequency, and at some of the highest levels of all consumer products. I would not recommend taking up this hobby unless you know exactly what you are buying and who is selling it and their supplier specifications. Even then, mistakes can occur, sourcing can change, and there are some bad actors in manufacturing who adulterate their products with cadmium or lead to reduce costs. They don’t care if children get poisoned. It’s not their problem. They’re half a world away, insulated from legal or regulatory action.
Whatever you do, please do not go to a random international shop and buy pretty beads. You need the quality control of a U.S.-based company with strict limits on toxic components to shield you as a consumer.
Due to the frequently of finding lead that greatly exceeds the children’s product standard of 90-100 parts per million, and the risk of a young child swallowing a bead, I view costume jewelry and beading to be areas of high concern. You may remember the 2006 case of a child who died after ingesting a lead charm that came with a pair of Rebook sneakers. This CDC article reiterates what I believe in my core and why I started this blog:
“…alternatives to lead are available. Restriction or elimination of non-essential uses of lead in consumer products should be part of a proactive strategy that prevents exposure to these products…”
Although some retailers have implemented tighter sourcing restrictions, and the State of California has passed promising restrictions on toxic metals in jewelry, there is no federal limit on lead or cadmium for adult jewelry products in the United States. Both can still be found in new beads.
Specific exposure concerns vary by material. The primary route of exposure for a leaded bead is ingestion. Lead and cadmium present at low levels in glass are likely bound within the glass and metal alloys may have coatings that limit skin contact, but that does not make them safe around kids. Handling metal and painted components that are high in lead may transfer lead onto the hands, so wash hands after handling or wearing any unknown generic jewelry. Children should not use these products.
I would personally choose to avoid all suspect jewelry and components if pregnant, breastfeeding, or there are children in the home. Ultimately there really is no reason to persist in using lead and cadmium in products. What people bring into their home will frequently end up in the hands of children where there is a great potential for harm.
When in doubt, to avoid lead in metal findings, use stamped 925 sterling silver or stainless steel (if you do not have a nickel allergy). Both options are readily available. We also have tons of safer jewelry options recommended on our jewelry page.
The Final Results…Yuck!
- Nickel plated lobster clasps marked “Made in China”
- Swarovski crystal hyacinth beads (circa 2003)
- Copper alloy rhinestone spacers
- “Genuine silver” crimp beads
- Assorted artisan glass beads including crystal
- Tiny silver colored crimp beads
- Magnetic gold plated lobster clasps from eBay (circa 2018)
Six failed our quality standards and heavy metals were detected.
Here is a summary of the XRF readings:
- Nickel plated lobster clasps marked “Made in China” 362,300 ppm Lead +/- 1200 and 35,700 ppm Antimony +/- 330 ppm
- Crystal hyacinth beads (circa 2003) Lead free but 1,049 Cadmium +/- 26 ppm
- Copper alloy rhinestone spacers 12,700 ppm Lead +/- 330 ppm, 643 ppm Cadmium +/- 22 ppm, 233 Antimony +/- 14
- Genuine silver crimp beads 1,121 ppm Lead +/- 93, yet they tested at over 94% silver! Go figure.
- Assorted artisan glass beads including crystal – The swirled glass bead tested at 430 ppm Lead +/- 18, 18 ppm Cadmium +/- 2, and 451 ppm Antimony +/- 10. The crystal bicones tested at 191,900 ppm Lead +/-5,600 and 930 ppm Antimony +/- 53 ppm
- Tiny silver colored crimp beads – no lead, cadmium, antimony, mercury, or arsenic!
- Magnetic gold plated lobster clasps from eBay (circa 2018) 11,900 ppm Lead +/- 330 ppm, 52 ppm Cadmium +/- 18 ppm
Testing Note: In this particular sampling we tested beads and findings directly through the plastic bags. The results when testing items through bags is less quantitative and more quantitative but you can review the error ranges +/- on the metals detected for accuracy.
Comparing These Results to Regulatory Standards Designed to Protect Children or Adults from Toxic Metals:
Six of seven samples exceed legal limits for lead in children’s products sold in the United States. Some exceed the limit by over 3,000 times.
Two of seven samples exceed legal limits for cadmium in kid’s jewelry sold in California (300 ppm) and limits for cadmium in adult jewelry in the European Union (100 ppm).
What will YOU be crafting with today?
Disclaimer: We provide our XRF testing for general educational or informational purposes only to help consumers identify low lead and lead-free products. We hereby disclaim any and all warranties, expressed or implied, and assume no duty or responsibility with respect to how any person or entity chooses to use the information on this website.
