If Cadmium is Toxic then how does it get in jewelry so often?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jurrasic
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SUMMARY

Cadmium is frequently used in jewelry despite its known toxicity, primarily due to economic factors such as availability, pricing, and ease of metalworking. Producers prioritize materials that are cost-effective and simple to manipulate, often overlooking safety concerns unless mandated by regulations. The discussion highlights that alternatives like nickel and aluminum are safer and also inexpensive, yet cadmium remains prevalent in the market. The article referenced provides further insights into the health risks associated with cadmium in adult jewelry.

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Jurrasic
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There are so many sources stating that Cadnium is toxic, so why is it put into jewelry that can easily be (and should be) made of safer metals such as nickel, or whatever would be safer, aluminum maybe? They want the jewelry to be cheap, but there are other metals that are cheap and safer, Cadnimum is more toxic than lead even according to various sources.

This is an article stating these claims, and there are others if anyone wants to understand the question here more:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35207539/ns/health-health_care/t/cadmium-found-adult-jewelry-too/
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org


This is not a chemical question, this is an economical question. There are three factors - availability, pricing, ease of metalworking. Producers select material that will be available, cheap and easy to work with, to be sure they can make the jewelry cheap and fast. They don't care much about anything else, unless forced by regulations.
 

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