Costume Jewelry Risks - how to tell the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia
At times people want to buy costume jewelry to save money and at other times they don't know how to tell the difference between diamond and cubic zirconia . Hopefully, if you buy costume jewelry, you know that's what you're getting, but even understanding that the jewelry is not genuine diamond or gold, there are other concerns that you need to take into account. Losing money is one thing, but endangering your health is another.
Cadmium Contamination
Recently, jewelry from third world countries has been found to contain high levels of cadmium, a heavy metal by a study conducted by Ashland University in Ohio. While wearing the jewelry might not produce immediate symptoms, ingesting any part of it can cause kidney, lung, or liver disease. Unfortunately, some of this costume jewelry is toy jewelry that may end up in the hands of children who innocently stick it in their mouths. Heavy metals come from industrial processes that may end up contaminating other manufacturing processes in areas that do not have any environmental regulations, like the United States. If you buy your jewelry from emerging countries, be aware that while the jewelry tends to be less expensive, the manufacturing processes do not have much oversight and can be contaminated with different chemicals or heavy metals. Choose to buy from reputable dealers only.
Metal Allergies
Another health risk with costume jewelry comes from the potential for allergies to non-gold metals. While you can get hypoallergenic jewelry that does not have to be gold, there is no guarantee you won�t have a reaction to it. Some people are particularly sensitive to different metals and can experience a rash or irritation when wearing pieces that are even said to be hypoallergenic. While it isn�t as dangerous as having cadmium in your jewelry, it�s still a source of concern.
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