CPSC Working on Cadmium in Kid's Products; Barium, Antimony & Helmets in 2011
During a December 2, 2010 Senate hearing1 on consumer product safety issues, Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Tenenbaum discussed some of the agency’s current and future work with emerging hazards as follows:
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Cadmium. Chairman Tenenbaum stated that the agency is currently working on cadmium issues with children’s products.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 10/20/10 and 08/18/10 news, 10102018 and 10081811, for BP summaries of CPSC urging the ASTM sub-committees on toys and children’s jewelry to revise their standards to reduce hazards associated with cadmium and CPSC’s consideration of a petition to limit cadmium in children’s jewelry, etc. See ITT’s Online Archives or 09/13/10 news, 10091306, for BP summary of EPA announcing rulemakings against cadmium in consumer products.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 10/06/10 and 05/24/10 news, 10100615 and 10052414, for BP summaries of California’s limit on cadmium in children’s jewelry starting in 2012 and a California-based NGO initiating legal action against 5 retailers for high cadmium levels in jewelry.)
Barium and antimony. She added that in 2011, CPSC will be looking at other toxic metals in children’s products such as barium and antimony.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 01/12/10 news, 10011210, for BP summary of a warning to Chinese manufacturers by Chairman Tenenbaum not to substitute antimony, barium, or cadmium in children’s products in place of lead, which has strict limits.)
Football helmets. Chairman Tenenbaum also stated that CPSC is concerned about the insufficiency of the current football helmet standard and that it would be meeting with the helmet standard committee in January 2011 to discuss the issue.
1The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance Subcommittee held a hearing on consumer product safety in the holiday season.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 12/07/10 news, 10120727, for detailed BP summary highlighting other aspects of the December 2 hearing.)