Is There Cadmium in Jewelry?
It has turned up in recalled products. A CPSC recall dated August 7, 2025 covers Monica Vinader 14k yellow gold mini heart chain bracelets, necklaces and stud earrings manufactured in October and November 2024, and says the jewelry can contain excess levels of cadmium that may cause adverse health effects through long-term skin exposure.
ATSDR says long-term exposure to lower levels of cadmium in air, food or water leads to a buildup of cadmium in the kidneys and possible kidney disease, with lung damage and fragile bones as other long-term effects, and that breathing high levels can severely damage the lungs. It says HHS and IARC have determined that cadmium and cadmium compounds are human carcinogens, and that the EPA determined cadmium is a probable human carcinogen.
California requires paperwork on metals in jewelry. Its Health and Safety Code says a manufacturer or supplier of jewelry that is sold or offered for sale must prepare a certification attesting that the jewelry does not contain a level of lead or cadmium that prohibits its sale under the state's jewelry law.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- RecallA CPSC recall dated August 7, 2025 covers Monica Vinader 14k yellow gold mini heart chain bracelets, necklaces and stud earrings manufactured in October and November 2024. US Consumer Product Safety Commission, via web.archive.org ↗
- RecallThe CPSC recall notice says the jewelry can contain excess levels of cadmium, which may cause adverse health effects through long-term skin exposure. US Consumer Product Safety Commission, via web.archive.org ↗
- Government sourceATSDR says long-term exposure to lower levels of cadmium leads to a buildup in the kidneys and possible kidney disease, with lung damage and fragile bones as other long-term effects. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Government sourceATSDR says breathing high levels of cadmium can severely damage the lungs, and eating food or drinking water with very high levels severely irritates the stomach. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Government sourceATSDR says HHS and IARC have determined cadmium and cadmium compounds are human carcinogens, and the EPA determined cadmium is a probable human carcinogen. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Regulatory filingCalifornia law says jewelry manufacturers and suppliers must prepare a certification attesting that jewelry sold or offered for sale does not contain a level of lead or cadmium that prohibits its sale under the article. California Legislature, Health and Safety Code 25214.3.1 ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.