Jewelry sold by Claire?s Accessories may contain lead, according to a report by the Baltimore City Health Department.
Baltimore City Health Commissioner Josh Sharfstein challenged Claire?s to voluntarily remove items of costume jewelry he said tested high for lead content before he orders a ban on the sale of these items within city limits.
He said city officials tested one pearl ring in the Princess Collection at nearly 7 percent lead content. Baltimore firm Penniman and Browne Inc. tested the Princess ring with a Consumer Product Safety Commission-approved method, including dipping the item in acid to see how much lead it released, according to the health department release. Parts of the ring tested 6.8 percent lead, which is more than 100 times the standard for lead in paint.
In addition, Baltimore broadcaster ABC2 News tested a Hilary Duff-brand necklace as high as 41 percent lead by weight using X-ray fluorescence technology.
Marisa Jacobs, spokeswoman for Claire?s Accessories, said they work hard to ensure none of their suppliers violate lead limits, but “it?s not possible to know whether this particular piece was tested.”
She could not say whether the company would comply with Baltimore?s letter.
