Online marketplaces Amazon and TikTok Shop are selling jewelry containing dangerous levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal linked to cancer, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times. The findings have prompted warnings from experts about the potential health consequences for consumers.
Cadmium can accumulate in the liver, kidneys, and lungs, leading to bone thinning, liver damage, infertility, and an increased risk of cancer. Professor Christer Hogstrand, a toxicologist at King's College London, described cadmium as one of the most potent metals for causing toxicity and advised minimizing exposure.
In the UK, the legal limit for cadmium in jewelry is 0.01%. However, the investigation discovered a ring sold on Amazon, advertised as 925 silver, contained over 9,000 times this limit, with an estimated composition of more than 92% cadmium. Another seller on TikTok Shop, Perform Pearls, was banned from the platform after charms in their bracelets were found to contain nearly 3,300 times the legal limit. This led to a product recall and the seller's removal from the site for policy violations.
Experts expressed particular concern over earrings, as contact with pierced skin increases the risk of exposure. Dermatologist Dr. Ariel Haus noted that while not every wearer will develop cadmium toxicity, the presence of such a metal is a significant concern, especially if items are mouthed by children or worn on damaged skin.
While the use of cadmium is increasingly restricted in Europe due to its health risks, the investigation highlights a broader issue of potentially harmful products entering the UK market. In February 2025, Essex Trading Standards intercepted a large shipment of earrings with excessive cadmium levels. Last October, tests by the Office for Product Safety and Standards identified high cadmium levels in Dishowme butterfly rings, leading to warnings of a serious chemical risk.
This year alone, two Amazon purchases were intercepted at the border and destroyed for containing high levels of cadmium. The National Association of Jewellers has raised concerns that UK trading standards may not be adequately equipped to monitor the influx of such toxic products.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) states that prolonged exposure to cadmium can cause lung damage, organ failure, and death. Long-term exposure is also linked to bone and kidney damage, and cancer. Regulations in the UK prohibit cadmium in items with prolonged skin contact, such as jewelry, above the legal threshold. Supplying unsafe products is a criminal offense, though it remains unclear if Amazon and TikTok Shop are subject to these specific regulations.
Jayne Bond, an independent jewelry consultant, alerted Amazon to a cadmium-heavy ring on May 12th. Despite her report, the item remained available for at least another week. Amazon stated it is in the process of removing these items and is investigating the matter, emphasizing its policy that all products must comply with applicable laws and regulations.