City clamps down on lead in jewelry
The Baltimore City Health Department has ordered two city businesses to stop selling children's jewelry found to have levels of lead in excess of what the city allows.
The items include a "Gymnastics bracelet," full of red and blue charms, sold at Beauty Zone, 231 N. Eutaw Street and a "Dora" bracelet and earring set sold at Choice Corner Accessories & Fine Gifts, 400 W. Lexington Street. Both items were found to have lead levels in excess of 600 parts per million, higher than the city limit.
Concerned about lead's damaging effect on children, the city took on the hazard of lead back in 2006, banning its use in jewelry, candy and even eyeliner sold in the city. The effort was spearheaded by Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, former city health department commissioner who now holds the deputy commissioner post at the Food and Drug Administration.
In 2006, the city set a lead level limit of 600 pmm, lower than federal regulations at the time. Earlier this year, the feds lowered its limit to 300 pmm with plans to drop it to 100 pmm in two years. The health department plans to follow suit with new regulations of its own, said a health department spokesman.
