Back to Special Report - Lead Poisoning
To determine the accessibility of lead-tainted jewelry, The Tampa Tribune bought 50 metallic pieces of jewelry and toys at 12 Tampa Bay retailers in early May. The paper tested items using methods used by scientists at Ashland University in Ohio, which has conducted similar tests on toys.
The purchasing criteria: the products must be inexpensive, attractive to children and made in China, the nation that manufactured many recent recalls.
Tests were conducted by Richmond, Va. Environmental Hazards Inc., an independent lab used by the Hillsborough County Health Department for its lead testing. The atomic absorption test conducted is the first of two tests used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to determine if a federal recall is merited. The test found 19 products, or 38 percent, contained at least .06 percent lead, one of two thresholds. Samples weighed between .438 and 3.01 grams.
The following results list the lead content based on a “parts per million” analysis. Any items containing 600 parts per million equal .06 percent lead. An * means the sample tested contained substantial amounts of substrate which may have affected weight percent calculation.
| NUMBER | JEWELRY | PARTS per MILLION |
RETAILER | MANUFATURER | RETAILER ADDRESS |
COST | DATE PURCHASED |
| 1 |
Bangle Bracelets
|
less than 38 | Fun-Lan Swap Shop Vendor | Unknown | 2302 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $1.00 | 4-May |
| 2 | Bracelet With
Purse Hat Charms |
180,000 | Fun-Lan Swap Shop Vendor | Unknown | 2302 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $2.00 | 4-May |
| 3 | Crown Necklace |
61 | Save Rite Grocery Warehouse | Vending machine | 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $0.50 | 4-May |
| 4 | Pirate Saber
Necklace  |
less than 25 | Save Rite Grocery Warehouse | Vending machine | 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $0.50 | 4-May |
| 5 | Purple, Gold And
Black Bracelet |
less than 42 | Family Dollar | Vending machine | 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $0.50 | 4-May |
| 6 | Gold Ring With
Smiley Face |
750 | Family Dollar | Vending machine | 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $0.50 | 4-May |
| 7 | 9 Pairs Of Child
Earrings By
Distinctly Basics |
110 | Family Dollar | Rachel Rose | 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $2.00 | 4-May |
| 8 | Fun N Games
Harmonica |
less than 49 | Family Dollar | Gordy International, Plainfield, N.J. | 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $1.00 | 4-May |
| 9 | 5 Action Racers
Cars |
less than 25 | Family Dollar | Polyfect Co., Hong Kong | 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $1.00 | 4-May |
| 10 | Disney Princess
Royal Jewelry Set |
less than 31 | Family Dollar | Creative Designs International Ltd., Trevose, Pa. | 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $1.00 | 4-May |
| 11 | Super Models
Jewelry Set |
less than 40 | Family Dollar | Gordy International, Plainfield, N.J. | 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $1.00 | 4-May |
| 12 | 6 Pink Beaded
Necklaces |
140* | Target | Tien Hsing International Trading Co. Ltd., Hong Kong | 3265 W. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.00 | 4-May |
| 13 | Fancy Finery Frog
And Bug Charms |
30 | Michaels Crafts | Hirschberg Schutz & Co., Union, N.J. | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $2.99 | 4-May |
| 14 | Bling Eyeglasses |
less than 49 | Big Lots | Ja-Ru, Jacksonville | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $1.00 | 4-May |
| 15 | Next Kids
Horse Pendant |
32,000 | Big Lots | Unknown | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $1.49 | 4-May |
| 16 | Whimsical Notions
Heart Necklace |
190,000 | Big Lots | Buy-Rite, Freehold, N.J. | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $1.99 | 4-May |
| 17 | Flashing Jewelry
Ring |
27,000 | Big Lots | Unknown | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $2.99 | 4-May |
| 18 | Sweetest Thing
Key Chain |
44,000 | Big Lots | Buy-Rite, Freehold, N.J. | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $1.90 | 4-May |
| 19 | Best Friends
Pendants |
140,000 | Big Lots | Selected Trading Corp., Miami | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $0.99 | 4-May |
| 20 | Amour Hair Pins |
47,000 | Big Lots | Unknown | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $1.99 | 4-May |
| 21 | Beach Girl
Key Chain |
95,000 | Big Lots | Icon Collection | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $1.99 | 4-May |
| 22 | Next Kids
Dog Charm Clip |
55,000 | Big Lots | Unknown | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $1.49 | 4-May |
| 23 | Chrome Bot |
less than 44 | Dollar Tree | Greenbrier International, Chesapeke, Va. | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $1.00 | 4-May |
| 24 | Expressions
Bracelets |
less than 25 | Dollar Tree | Greenbrier International, Chesapeke, Va. | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $1.00 | 4-May |
| 25 | Sassy & Chic
Bracelet |
1,000 | Dollar Tree | Greenbrier International, Chesapeke, Va. | 3804 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa | $1.00 | 4-May |
| 26 | Hello Kitty
Sticker |
35* | Sanrio | Nakajima USA, Los Angeles, and Sanrio | International Plaza, Tampa | $2.75 | 4-May |
| 27 | Hello Kitty
Florida Bracelet |
49 | Sanrio | Nakajima USA, Los Angeles, and Sanrio | International Plaza, Tampa | $7.00 | 4-May |
| 28 | Claire's Club
Ring Sets |
190 | Claire's | Unknown | International Plaza, Tampa | $6.00 | 4-May |
| 29 | Best Friends Skull
And Cross Bones |
600 | Claire's | CBI Distributing Corp., Hoffman Estates, Ill. | International Plaza, Tampa | $6.50 | 4-May |
| 30 | Claire's Club
Princess Bracelet |
160 | Claire's | Unknown | International Plaza, Tampa | $3.50 | 4-May |
| 31 | Blue Jewel Ring |
less than 30 | Bealls Outlet | Vending machine | 1035 62nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $0.50 | 7-May |
| 32 | Bejeweled Necklace
And Charm |
700,000 | Bealls Outlet | Shalom International Corp., Perth Amboy, N.J. | 1035 62nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $1.59 | 7-May |
| 33 | Trendy Looks Deluxe
Collection Ring And
Necklace Set |
less than 17 | Bealls Outlet | Unknown | 1035 62nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $1.49 | 7-May |
| 34 | Lock And Key |
740* | Save Rite Grocery Warehouse | Vending machine | 2525 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa | $0.50 | 4-May |
| 35 | Inspire Me
Bracelet |
55 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.50 | 8-May |
| 36 | Fashion Bracelet
Flower Charms |
45 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.25 | 8-May |
| 37 | Toggle Cross
Necklace |
98 | Dollar General | Harry Ash/Almar Sales Co., New York | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.00 | 8-May |
| 38 | Fashion Statement
Purple Jewel Clip |
56 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.50 | 8-May |
| 39 | Fashion Cross
Necklace And
Earring Set |
520,000 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $3.00 | 8-May |
| 40 | Fashion Clip
Pink Heart |
4,400 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.50 | 8-May |
| 41 | Daisy Key Chain |
86 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.25 | 8-May |
| 42 | Sports Gear
Soccer Hair Clip |
58,000 | Dollar General | Unknown | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.00 | 8-May |
| 43 | Fish & Teapot
Fashion Bracelet |
54 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.50 | 8-May |
| 44 | Wild At Heart
In Love Necklace |
29 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $2.00 | 8-May |
| 45 | Spaniel Dog
Key Chain |
79 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.50 | 8-May |
| 46 | Wisdom Metal
Key Ring |
56,000 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.00 | 8-May |
| 47 | Multicolor Charm
Key Chain |
4,000 | Dollar General | Dolgencorp, Goodlettsville, Tenn. | 4005 S. Gandy Blvd., Tampa | $1.00 | 8-May |
| 48 | Best Friends
Necklace |
44 | Wal-Mart Super Center | Girl Connection | 8001 U.S. 19, Pinellas Park | $2.50 | 8-May |
| 49 | Best Buds Kitty
Necklace |
130 | Wal-Mart Super Center | Girl Connection | 8001 U.S. 19, Pinellas Park | $2.50 | 8-May |
| 50 | Silver HeartKey Chain |
98 | Wal-Mart Super Center | Key Elements | 8001 U.S. 19, Pinellas Park | $1.97 | 8-May |
Reporter: Mary Shedden and Michael Sasso - The Tampa Tribune
Photos: Jay Nolan - The Tampa Tribune | Slide show: Joseph Brown III - The Tampa Tribune
Video: Kelvin Ma - The Tampa Tribune
Copy Editor: Corrie Benfiled - The Tampa Tribune
Designer: Tara Voelker - TBO.com | Online Producers: Laura Fiorilli, Vidisha Priyanka - TBO.com