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Embroidery and Embellishment / Lead content in rhinestones
« on: May 24, 2017, 19:44:39 PM »
I have to admit that I'm very happy with the brand of budget rhinestones that I've now found after trying a few different types. Their sparkle is really good but I recently wondered about them after seeing some Preciosa packaging with "lead-free". I'm not one for knee-jerk reactions but I do take it seriously so I checked with the supplier who confirmed that they do have lead content although gave no detail of their precise makeup.
From my research they are only an issue if they are digested and much more dangerous for children - hence the problem in the old days when lead containing paint used to be used on baby's cots. It's a timely reminder about never allowing a child to play with a hair ornament, however.
Apparently Swarovski crystals were only reconstituted to reduce their lead levels in 2012 so anyone with a used dress can't be sure how old the crystals are. Lead poisoning is a big issue for children and I understand there is no 'safe level' standard for children. The US Consumer Product Safety rules requires a maximum of 100parts per million for children's products.
I'm confident that it's safe enough to use them on dresses etc as intended but, nevertheless, I'm wary now of allowing my DGD to fix them directly onto her skin with eyelash glue. In ballroom dance competitions, children aren't allowed to wear any bling until the age of 12 although they may do so in shows, of course, and the dance floor is often sprinkled with crystals that have fallen off dresses.
In disco/freestyle comps very young children often wear totally blinged-up costumes so I think it would be helpful if more was known about this but not in a panicked over-reaction as the glue they're using to fix them onto the costumes may well be causing more damage to more people inhaling the fumes than the crystals are likely to do in normal use.
From my research they are only an issue if they are digested and much more dangerous for children - hence the problem in the old days when lead containing paint used to be used on baby's cots. It's a timely reminder about never allowing a child to play with a hair ornament, however.
Apparently Swarovski crystals were only reconstituted to reduce their lead levels in 2012 so anyone with a used dress can't be sure how old the crystals are. Lead poisoning is a big issue for children and I understand there is no 'safe level' standard for children. The US Consumer Product Safety rules requires a maximum of 100parts per million for children's products.
I'm confident that it's safe enough to use them on dresses etc as intended but, nevertheless, I'm wary now of allowing my DGD to fix them directly onto her skin with eyelash glue. In ballroom dance competitions, children aren't allowed to wear any bling until the age of 12 although they may do so in shows, of course, and the dance floor is often sprinkled with crystals that have fallen off dresses.
In disco/freestyle comps very young children often wear totally blinged-up costumes so I think it would be helpful if more was known about this but not in a panicked over-reaction as the glue they're using to fix them onto the costumes may well be causing more damage to more people inhaling the fumes than the crystals are likely to do in normal use.