Lead-free, Nickel-free what’s the BIG deal?

There are various selections of fashion jewelry that floods the market today. While this offers us excellent choices that fit all sorts of tastes and budget, there is a hidden danger lurking behind those unassuming treasures that we ought to know about.

With the exception of a handful of knowledgeable and discerning consumers, very few people know the implication of the word nickel-free and lead-free.

What then does nickel-free and lead-free means, and why should the public be concerned about it?

Nickel has been known to be the most common source of skin allergies. The reaction to it could range from a simple appearance of itchy, or blotchy red rashes to a more severe reaction characterized by wheals, pus formation and at some cases causing deformities.
When detected early, this can be easily remedied by removing the nickel-containing article and a dose of an anti-histamine medication but in severe cases, this requires a more intensive medical intervention. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nickel-allergy/DS00826/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs)

Due to this damaging effect, U.S., several other western countries and the whole of Europe has totally banded the presence of nickel in their jewelry.
Unfortunately in Asia and in third world countries, such regulation does not exist or even if it does, this is not seriously monitored and implemented.

While the wearer may not be allergic, there is such case as secondary nickel allergic reaction. This happens when a non-nickel sensitive person gets in contact with a nickel-sensitive person. A simple hand shake could illicit similar response as when the person gets in contact with a nickel-containing item first hand. Unfortunately for the affected person, he or she would most likely not have known where the allergy came from.

In the U.S., ingestion of lead containing jewelry has been one of the leading causes of lead poisoning among children. So much so that the U.S. government has passed on a strict regulation with regards to lead content not just in the fashion jewelry but also among toys, paints and several other household products as well.

Exposure to lead even in slow incremental doses through skin contact could overtime still lead to poisoning.

I have known a wonderful lady who had been in the fashion jewelry business for more more than 15 years now. She is a hands-on designer who strings and assembles the prototypes of her jewelry herself. While doing so, she got into the habit of putting beads into her lip ready to be strung.

Just last year, she has been in and out of the hospital for various medical diagnosis and treatments. She complains of unexplained fatigue, nervousness, tremors, prolonged diarrhea and others, the diagnosis---lead and mercury poisoning.
She has undergone chelation and several other treatments with the hope of flushing the toxins out. But her condition was rather far too advanced when she found out about it.

How are we to know that the jewelry we are buying is lead-free and nickel-free?

1.) Buy from reputable source

In general, branded jewelry from US and Europe has a standing government regulation to ensure that they only sell lead and nickel-free jewelry. The sanctions are quite severe so most companies comply.

From my experience in exporting fashion jewelry to various brands abroad, all the samples and a random selection from the volume produced items, undergoes testing once it reaches the country of destination.

Likewise, most of the big brands, only work with manufacturing companies that has been audited by a reputable, independent auditing body to ensure not only that the jewelry is safe but that it is produced responsibly.

This is probably the reason why authentic brands also cost higher and why we should all be wary of imitations.

Of course this doesn’t mean that we should only buy expensive branded products.
I believe there are a lot of Filipino companies and manufacturers who have taken the moral obligation to have their products tested.

Take for instance the flip flop brand—Havaianas. While this is a non-filipino brand, yet the Filipino distributor took the initiative of voluntarily recalling the Havaianas flip flops for kids as a precautionary measure for possible lead content. I don’t know Ms. Anne Gonzalez, Managing Director of Terry S.A. the Havaianas Philippines Distributor personally, but I think that it was quite admirable for their company to do what they just did. Putting the safety of the consumer even at the possible loss of profit, is one that other businessmen could learn from.

2.) Read the label

Companies who have undergone and passed nickel and lead testing are confident to put the word—“hypoallergenic” or nickel-free and lead-free into their label.
In the brand “IMPRESSIONE “ and “ARTIZANS” which I personally endorse, we are guaranteed of the items being lead-free and nickel-free.

For the rest of the brands out there, if there are no labels, then ask the sales lady or the company.

In this time and age, communications are relayed in variety of means, choose one that suits you. It might also be worthwhile if one could just make a quick internet research about the company or brand.

3.) If its too good to be true, it probably is

I have a personal confession to make; I am a sucker for cheap bargains. I’d feel good getting the things I want for a fraction of its cost. I’m one of those buyers who’d befriend a salesgirl so that somehow she can call or text me in case my coveted product goes on sale.

Overtime, I have gotten wiser though. Some cheap items actually come with a hidden hefty price tag… your very own health included.

Having known the materials and labor cost involved in producing decent and safe fashion jewelry, getting a pair of earring at P30 for me is rather questionable.

My suggestion is, if the price is too cheap; get a quick inventory of what makes the item cheap.

For instance, if the materials are made of shells or wood or other locally produced components, and there aren’t too many big pieces of metals on it, then perhaps getting the item for a little less than P100 is okay. If a metallic chain necklace cost less than a hundred, I serious doubt if its nickel or lead-free.

4.) Do a personal testing

Your local ACE or TRUE-Value hardware store might carry a local nickel-testing kit that allows one to do their own nickel-testing. Just ask for Nickel-testing kit and the salesperson should be able to locate this for you if they have it on stock.

Of course I am only talking about fashion jewelry here. There are still many other products we use everyday that we should take the time to check. Reading the labels and ingredients for instance, should be a habit, we all should develop.

(photo credit: http://www.theassayoffice.co.uk)