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Lead contamination in jewelry in Southern California

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State investigators recently discovered lead contamination in more than 30 pieces of jewelry in Southern California warehouses, including one wooden angel necklace with nearly 74% lead content.

Some of the pieces, which were available in a variety of colors, were imported from China and were advertised as being lead-free, according to the state Department of Toxic Substances Control. But tests showed lead content in the jewelry that exceeded California’s limits.

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The items included Virgin Mary pendants, butterfly earrings, hair clips and brooches. A silver metal ring with a cross design had 630,000 parts per million lead despite being labeled as lead-free. A necklace with a fairy pendant had 830,000 parts per million lead.

The department is working with distributors to clear the products off shelves.

-- Tiffany Hsu

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