Six Of One, A Half Dozen Of The Other

AP: Feds probe cadmium in kids' jewelry from China

Today’s AP/W.Post story shows a major unintended consequence of the lead content limits. By banning lead above 300ppm, Congress has led some manufacturers to make items containing cadmium at over 900,000ppm—which is far more dangerous than 300ppm of lead. A similar problem has emerged from Congress’s ban on certain phthalates. By not allowing manufacturers to use phthalates, which this agency has previously found to not be harmful, manufacturers have turned to using other plastic softeners that have not been tested or found safe by this agency.