Amazon has been forced to yank women’s and children’s butterfly rings after they were found to contain dangerous levels of a cancer-causing chemical. The Office for Product Safety and Standards ordered the online giant to stop Sellingselling the Dishowme butterfly rings after uncovering high amounts of cadmium – a “category 1 carcinogen” – in the jewellery.
Deadly Chemical Found in Pretty Rings
The offending jewellery, imported from China, comes as two silver-coloured butterfly rings packaged in a clear plastic bag and targeted at women and girls. Trading standards bosses slammed the product for “serious chemical risk” due to cadmium levels exceeding the legal limit.
“Cadmium is harmful to human health as it accumulates in the body, may cause cancer and can damage organs,” said the Office for Product Safety and Standards.
They confirmed the only Wayway to fix the risk was for Amazon to remove the listing immediately. england/the-rings/”>england/the-rings/”>The rings have since vanished from Amazon’s site.
Cadmium: The Deadly Metal Hiding in Your Trinkets
Cadmium use is on the decline across the EU, restricted mainly to nickel-cadmium batteries, pigments, and conductors. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warns that inhaling or swallowing cadmium can cause severe health problems.
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and metal fume fever
- Digestive irritation, nausea, diarrhoea
- Long-term exposure can lead to bone and kidney damage
- Cadmium is officially classified as carcinogenic to humans
Severe exposure may even result in multiple organ failure or death, though environmental levels are usually too low for such extreme effects.
Amazon Responds, But No Recall Declared
An Amazon spokesperson said the company requires all products to meet laws and policies. “We continuously monitor our store and develop innovative tools to prevent unsafe products from being listed,” they added.
“The product in question has been removed,” Amazon confirmed, stressing this is not a product recall.
But shoppers are warned to be cautious when buying budget jewellery online – this toxic discovery shows not all that glitters is gold.
