Cadmium in children's toys

We've often heard of lead in children's toys, but we also need to be concerned about cadmium. Cadmium is a metal that can be found in children's products, including clothing accessories, jewelry, and the paint on the surfaces and linings of toys. Outside of children's products, it can be found in batteries, metal coatings, industrial paints, tobacco smoke, and as a stabilizers in plastics.

Image taken from http://ecowatch.com/2013/08/08/childrens-toys-toxic-cadmium/

Cadmium is used as an alternative to lead. It's cheaper, but it's also toxic. Cadmium exposure has been linked to kidney and bone damage, and delayed brain development in children. Cadmium has also been labelled a "known human carcinogen."  Children are of particular concern because they put toys, jewelry and other products in their mouths.

In 2011, the U.S. Congress, limited the amount of cadmium that can be used in toys and there is a voluntary industrial standard on the amount of cadmium that can be used in jewelry. However, critics claim this is not enough, as some products still contain hazardous levels of cadmium. Six states and the European Union have put Cadmium bans into place for certain products. The states are CA, CT, IL, MD, MN and WA.

Sources

NCSL
SAFER States
ECOWATCH
Khaleej Times