Jewellery is an individual embellishment that people used from ancient times to complement themselves. Jewellery may be made from an extensive range of materials, but gemstones, precious metals, beads, and shells have been widely used. From time to time, lots of things have been added for the production of ornaments. Many of these are elements, like mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), etc. and they are harmful to human health. The wide uses of some of these elements in the ornaments are for making them more durable and glossy. Metallic gold is the major primary component of the gold ornaments. In addition to harming the environment, some of these elements have a strong possibility of entering the food chain. Jewelers and regular users of jewelry are particular targets of the excessive presence of toxic metals in these. In poorly ventilated working spaces, jewelers continuously inhale the invisible, odorless toxic vapor and suffer from diseases like anxiety, memory loss, skin problems, and poor cognitive function.
No investigation has yet been carried out on the harmful effects of heavy metals used in jewelry. Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO has taken a pioneering step to conduct a primary study to find out mainly the toxic metal contents of several pieces of jewelry and also the current level of awareness of the jewelry manufacturers and users about their toxicity.
With this objective in view adults’ and children’s jewelry, such as Earrings, Necklaces, Bracelets, Finger rings, Chains, and Bangles were collected from shopping malls, and retail shops and tested in the EARTH XRF laboratory in Bangkok. The samples were tested for Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni), Bromine (Br), Chromium (Cr), Silver (Ag), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Chlorine (Cl) and Calcium (Ca). The test results show that the samples contain high levels of As, Pb, TiO2, Cd, Ni, Hg, and Zn. Necklaces and chains are found to contain Hg, while the pieces of children’s jewelry contain high levels of Cd, Pb, Ni, As, and TiO2. Tests show that most of the earrings contain Cd and Pb in high levels and Hg in medium levels. Most of the children’s jewelry contains high levels of Pb, Cd, Br, and TiO2.
Research results found evidence that cadmium and other toxic elements could leach out of the jewelry when children sucked or scratched them, and ingesting even tiny amounts of the toxic elements can harm children’s brain development. Most of the products have never got screened for their toxic contents and slipped through even though the toxic limit surpasses the internationally set safety standard.
The high bromine contents of many samples indicate that recycled plastic containing hazardous brominated flame retardants (BFRs) has been used as a filler for the jewelry beads.
The study reveals that the current status of awareness level of the hazards associated with jewelry items is really low. 55 % of the users mentioned having a red rash on the skin. On the basis of the collected data, some suggestions have been put forward.
Key Findings of the Study:
Most of the jewelry items were found to contain Titanium (Ti) in very high concentrations (1300-7500) ppm.
Lead (Pb) content was found to be the highest in pendants. Pb concentration varied from 800 ppm to over 10,000 ppm in different jewelry items. The maximum recommended level for adults is 0.03 ppm.
Cadmium (Cd) was high in concentration in almost every item tested. The concentration varied from 2000 ppm to almost 6500 ppm. The permissible limit of Cadmium for the human body is 0.01 ppm.
Nickel (Ni) was found in greater than 100 ppm (110-800) ppm in almost every sample. Maximum permissible limit of Ni for the human body is 0.04 ppm.
Earring and finger ring samples were found to contain Mercury (Hg). A maximum of 0.01 ppm of Hg is allowed for humans.
Arsenic (As) was detected in every sample in a high concentration. 0.05 ppm As is allowable for the human body.
Zinc (Zn) concentration varied up to 3500 ppm in different samples.
The bracelet sample was found to contain Calcium (Ca) in a very high concentration.
12 children’s jewelry samples contained a high level of Br, 1200-3200 ppm and 9 contained BFR. Allowed Br level for adults is 0.1 ppm
