Speaking of secrets, the use of cadmium almost not too familiar to jewelers about China by shiny metal, flexibility, easy laminated at low temperatures is important and very cheap.

Despite the danger to health, plant sequences scattered on the Eastern coast of China to use low quality materials including cadmium order to bring low-cost products.

“What is to eat food, all just because customer needs only,” said Huihua the narrow room filled dangle earrings and hooks hanging key. Huihua management Suiyuan jewelry store located in Yiwu, which focused sales and export these goods. Around Huihua know how magnets set, necklace and a variety of inexpensive jewelry sparkling under the bright light market.

“We just follow orders from customers. They will pay more money for better materials and vice versa. The same type of jewelry, we can produce cost from a few cents to several dollars by raw material different, “he added. Answer about the risk of illness when exposed to cadmium or other toxic metals, Huihua said: “I spring a few stories that interest.”

Children’s toy jewelry sold in wholesale markets described in Yiwu.

Then long concern about the safety of the products originating here on China after AP published survey results showed that 12 out of 103 samples of children Chinese jewelry sold in the U.S. contain at least 10% concentration of cadmium, a substance that can cause cancer. Some of these samples have cadmium content accounted for 80-90% weight of products. Besides, two other sample content below 10%.

Domestic retailers Wal-Mart soon after the removal of all similar products contain toxic form from shops. Tuesday, chain retail jewelry Claire with more than 3,000 stores in North America and Europe will be announced similar actions. Two hands around food themed movie “Best Friends”Claire sold in turn contain 89 and 91% concentration of cadmium.

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Safety Committee U.S. opened the investigation around this issue. China has also warned its exporters. Department jewelry poisoning reminds people recalled the scandals in 2007 when a series of products containing lead were detected at the level of danger. Mattel production and take other toys to withdraw large products originating in China. U.S. authorities subsequently made more stringent regulations on the use of lead in manufacturing children’s toys.

China Law also has provisions on concentration of cadmium in the jewelry and toys, according to the product’s page may not contain more than 0.1% concentration of cadmium, also toys only account for less than 50 — 75 million. This regulation in accordance with international standards implementation song rather loosely.

Specialist metal in a factory manufacturing jewelry in Yiwu for suppliers or sell alloy containing up to 90% concentration of cadmium. Results interviewed more than 10 manufacturers and business here that cadmium is a common ingredient in earrings, rings hand, some strings of beads and other trinkets and jewelry.

Yiwu small town used to be Shanghai by five hours by car, become strongly developed in twenty years. Suppliers from which almost dominates the whole jewelry market for low to moderate level of China. Whole in 2008, China exported nearly 600 tons of jewelry of all kinds, down 15% compared to previous years.

Tao Xinyao, experts working at metal factory in Yiwu jewelry Neoglory that the use of cadmium increased since 2003, when the metal is significantly reduced price. Manufacturers also realized that began production by cadmium easier than silver, a toxic material. Melting point of cadmium is 300 degrees C, while the silver requires 400 degrees C, enabling the factory to save energy. Cadmium and silver lighter, so with a ton of metal can make more products if cadmium constitute a higher rate.

“In Yiwu, a few suppliers or sell so-called alloy of silver, but silver makes up only a very small proportion, 80-90% left is the cadmium content. Therefore, the right to call it a cadmium alloy, Tao said.

Lead and cadmium are often used in jewelry metal China simply because of their very cheap price. A ton of high quality silver price around 28,000 yuan (4100 U.S. equivalent), but silver alloy leaded or cadmium only cost 16,000 yuan (2350 dollars), according to Frank Zhang, a senior jewelry factory in Yiwu. Zhang’s factory specializing in luxury goods as exports, so although he did not want to name your company.

According to Zhang, the products use low-level cadmium sold many more in China and exported to Dubai and the Middle East with the number growing. This places the product safety regulations are not strict like the U.S. or Europe.

The global financial crisis caused difficulties for the jewelry industry, forcing them to cut costs strong hands. About 10% of factories have closed in 2008. Sales representative Toby Zhu said his company were among the victims of the crisis. Both last year, companies have closed booths introducing products in the commercial center. From site specializing in high-level work, this company must think Zhu, the use of raw materials for products less than silver. Zhu asserting the company not to use cadmium, only the metal safe as copper, magnesium or steel. But according to him, since the U.S. requires more strict lead content, many customers require products not only because the manufacturers have turned to cadmium.

Christopher Devereux, managing director of Chinasavvy HK company based in Guangzhou, that have strict checks and regularly if you want to ensure Chinese goods to safety, but it is difficult for foreign partners to do this especially when the manufacturer deliberately making goods cheaper low quality.

“In Western countries, the quality of goods is increasing in China vice versa. The cover unit, we were free from experience for yourself, to test each batch of goods, Devereux expressed. Devereux company specializing in brokerage helps clients buy and western production of many goods in China, from toys to shoes, food containers.

“Cadmium as raw material for worst product of heavy metals, worse than the lead. I’m really surprised or information they use it as jewelry,” he added.

Reflecting a key, Zaiying Chen, director of jewelry shops in Yiwu that SK manufacturers in China often mixed with bad quality than to corrupt the body in control. “Customers do not buy based solely on the quality of reports that manufacturers should investigate whether there meet the export standards do not,” Chen advised.