Five jewels of the Shein brand are subject to a recall because they contain too high levels of heavy metals, endangering health.
- Some heavy metals can be found in food, through the consumption of fish for example.
- According to Santé Environnement France, 12% of the general population is allergic to nickel.
Be careful, if you recently ordered jewelry on the Shein site. The Chinese fast-fashion giant is mentioned in five site reviews Drink reminder, which warns of dangerous products. Five of the brand’s jewels have too high levels of heavy metals. The notices were published on Friday 3 February.
Shein reminder: what jewelry is affected?
Among the products concerned by the recall, there is the necklace called “sun charm“, which bears the reference sw2107128827319336. According to Rappel Conso, it contains cadmium levels above regulatory standards.
The earrings”geometric detail threader“, another product concerned, also have excessively high levels of cadmium. They carry the reference sj2112024566892740.
The pearl chain necklace, part number sj2207031359285308, is being recalled for the same reasons.
As for the necklace with 18K gold-plated star zirconia pendant, with reference sj2204090850129065, and the conch & starfish charm anklet, which has as reference sj2206087181199944, they have too high levels of nickel.
For each of these jewels, it is advisable to stop wearing them immediately. The brand must offer a refund as compensation.
#ProductRecall
18K Gold Plating Star Cubic Zirconia Pendant Necklace – SHEINRisks: Metallic trace elements (heavy metals: lead, mercury, cadmium, etc.)
Reason: Released nickel rate higher than regulatory standardshttps://t.co/iu6FZKxhHG pic.twitter.com/gKjCXphjzc
— Consum Reminder (@Consum Reminder) February 3, 2023
Heavy metals: what are their effects on health?
“Heavy metals are generally defined as naturally occurring metallic elements with a density greater than 5000kg/m3″explains theHealth Environment France association. These materials are present in nature, and can sometimes be used in industry, as is the case for nickel or cadmium.
“The health impact of heavy metals depends on their chemical species, their concentration, their bioavailability and their passage through the food chains, says the Association. Some elements (…) are directly toxic, such as mercury, lead or cadmium, others are essential (called trace elements) such as selenium or iron.”
Cadmium, considered “very toxic”, can pass into the blood and cause kidney problems. “The IARC has also confirmed a carcinogenic effect of cadmium on the body since 1993, mainly in the lungs”underlines the association.
As for nickel, it is present naturally in the human body, but in quantities lower than 500µg. “The simple nickel metal body is not very toxic, but has a strong allergenic power”, explains Santé Environnement France. In people with allergies, it causes contact dermatitis. This form of eczema is treated with corticosteroid therapy. THE University Hospital of Lyon specifies that in some cases, and in the absence of treatment, there may be complications such as bacterial superinfection or generalization of the lesions.
