Information Regarding Lead Content

 

Pretty Personal Gifts is committed to providing safe products to all of our customers.

As you are probably aware, a large number of toys imported from China were recently pulled from store shelves when they were found to contain high levels of lead. As a result of there has been increased regulatory focus on lead and lead exposure in children's products. A law has recently been passed requiring testing of certain products intended for use by children age 12 and under. Pretty Personal Gifts has taken appropriate steps to ensure that our products comply with this new law. The majority of our products have been excluded from the law and do not require testing because they made of materials that are scientifically known to not contain lead (cotton, wood, etc.)

Pretty Personal Gifts sells jewelry made with high quality components such as .925 sterling silver, gold and cultured fresh water pearls. These materials have also been excluded from the lead testing legislation because they are scientifically known to not contain lead. We do not use any base metal, pewter, paint or faux pearls in our jewelry.

Swarovski Crystal has unique properties. While it does contain lead, the crystal manufacturing process creates a matrix which greatly retards the mobility of lead making it very difficult to pass lead on to humans who wear it. Swarovski believes that the use of their product poses no significant risk to human health.

Most authorities considering lead in crystal such as Swarovski have concluded that limits on total lead should not apply to crystal. In 2006 the California Attorney General settled a lawsuit brought in the state alleging exposure to lead from jewelry. The court-approved settlement agreement, as well as the later legislatively enacted Californian AB 1681, established limits for lead in metals and several other components, with stricter standards for jewelry intended for children 6 and younger.

Significantly, in recognition of the limited risk of availability of lead from crystal, the settlement agreement as well as California AB 1681 allows the continued use of crystal without limitation in jewelry not intended for children. For children 6 or younger, up to 1 gram of crystal may be used in such jewelry. These same standards were adopted in the state of Minnesota. Please note that Pretty Personal Gifts always uses less than 1 gram of Swarovski crystal in their jewelry products which is below the established limit referanced above.

What does this all mean?

1) We have taken the necessary steps to conform to the new lead testing law for any product that requires testing, which are VERY few of our products, if any.

2) Most items that we sell have been excluded from the lead testing because they are made of materials that are scientifically known to be lead free such as silver, gold, cultured pearls, cotton, wood etc.

3) Lead poisoning typically occurs from ingesting lead. The primary source of lead poisoning in children is lead based paint, which is banned in the US. Lead paint on toys imported from China have been the most recent subject of concern.

4) Swarovski's manufacturing process of their crystal beads is such that it greatly reduces the threat of lead exposure by retarding the mobility.

5) The use of crystal beads in jewelry has been addressed by California in Prop 65. The approved level is 1 gram for children 6 and under. We use less than 1 gram of crystal in our jewelry which is less than the acceptable amount.

5) We have consulted with a federally approved lead testing lab who has confirmed Swarovski's findings and who are very familiar with Prop 65 and the new lead testing laws. They conclude that the risk to humans from wearing our Swarovski crystal jewerly is extremely low and highly unlikely. We are in the process of obtaning certification as required by the new federal law.

6) We custom make our bracelets and can make them with or without Swarovski crystals.

7) Children should never be left unattended with jewelry of any kind. Jewelry should never be placed in the mouth for any reason. Children should never be allowed to suck on or chew on jewelry. In addition to sanitary and health issues with placing jewelry in the mouth, small parts can pose a choking hazard should breakage occur. Please use discretion and supervise closely when allowing baby to wear jewelry. Best practice is to save jewelry as a keepsake and wear it on special occassion such as for photos, baptisms, birthdays, etc. Children under 3 should not wear jewelry 24/7.

If you have questions, please let us know shop@prettypersonalgifts.com

We will continue to follow and update this important topic, as our customer's safety is always our concern.