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Get the Facts: Heavy Metals

Click to jump to: Antimony, Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Lead, Mercury, Nickel

Heavy metals may be present in televisions, lipstick, ceramics, paints, costume jewelry, electronics, batteries and other products.

Exposure to toxic metals compounds in air, water, toys, electronics, jewelry, and many other products have been linked to cancer, developmental disorders, and a number of other health problems and diseases.

Consumer tips:

Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission Website and search for toys and other products that have been recalled because of lead and other safety reasons.

Get rid of cheap children’s jewelry and avoid buying new pieces because so many items are loaded with toxic lead and cadmium.

Labeling laws in some states may aid you in identifying which products contain certain toxic metals like mercury.

Refer to Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics, which evaluates companies on efforts to remove toxics from their products, as well as on climate impacts and recycling.

Ask retailers and toymakers how they ensure their manufacturers have adhered to high standards. Use your purchasing power to support companies or products that are moving in the right direction.

Antimony

Potential health effects include:

  • Heart problems
  • Reproductive Disorders
  • Respiratory/Lung Symptoms
  • Skin Irritations
  • Kidney Problems
  • Stomach Problems

Found in/used to produce:

  • Toys
  • Clothing
  • Pigments
  • Batteries
  • Textiles
  • Plastics
  • Paints
  • Ceramics
  • Enamels
  • Pewter

Arsenic

Potential health effects include:

  • Cancer

Found in/used to produce:

  • Electronics
  • Pressure-treated wood

Beryllium

Potential health effects include:

  • Lung disease and cancer

Found in/used to produce:

  • Televisions
  • Calculators
  • Computers
  • Electrical components
  • Tools
  • Telecommunication equipment

Cadmium

Potential health effects include:

  • Learning disabilities
  • Lung disease and cancer
  • Kidney disease
  • Weak bones

Found in/used to produce:

  • Children’s metal jewelry
  • Batteries
  • Pigments
  • Plastics
  • Photovoltaic devices

Chromium

Potential health effects include:

  • Lung disease and cancer
  • Gastrointestinal effects
  • Neurological effects
  • Reproductive/developmental effects

Found in/used to produce:

  • Steel & metal alloys
  • Chrome plating
  • Dyes and pigments
  • Leather and wood preservation
  • Textiles
  • Copying machines toner

Cobalt

Potential health effects include:

  • Lung problems
  • Skin irritations
  • Thyroid effects

Found in/used to produce:

  • Alloys
  • Batteries
  • Chemistry/crystal sets
  • Drill bits and machine tools
  • Dyes and pigments (Cobalt Blue)
  • Magnets
  • Tires
  • Ceramics
  • Paints

Lead

Potential health effects include:

  • Brain damage
  • Nervous system damage
  • Behavior and learning problems
  • Lower IQ
  • Hearing problems
  • Anemia
  • Hypertension
  • Decreased kidney function
  • Reproductive problems (in both men and women)
  • Miscarriage

Found in/used to produce:

  • Children’s jewelry
  • Toys
  • Ceramics
  • Lipstick
  • Paint
  • Candy

Mercury


Potential health effects include:

  • Fetal developmental problems
  • Fetal neurological problems
  • Kidney effects
  • Central nervous system effects
  • Gastrointestinal effects
  • Respiratory effects

Found in/used to produce:

  • Antiques
  • Appliances
  • Button Cell Batteries
  • Paint
  • Skin-lightening creams
  • Electronics
  • Jewelry
  • Lamps/Light bulbs
  • Sporting Equipment
  • Television Sets
  • Thermometers

Nickel

Potential health effects include:

  • Cancer
  • Lung disease
  • Allergic reaction

Found in/used to produce:

  • Coins
  • Jewelry
  • Nickel plating
  • Ceramics
  • Batteries

* Under our weak federal laws, it’s impossible for us to know all the uses of heavy metals in consumer products. As a result, this is not an exhaustive list of all products containing heavy metals.

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