By Rita R. Robison, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Now that lead is banned in products for children, the makers of cheap children’s jewelry are substituting another toxic chemical – cadmium.

An investigation by the Associated Press reported high cadmium levels in items including bracelet charms from Wal-Mart and Claire’s stores. Lab tests conducted for the AP on 103 pieces of low-priced children’s jewelry, nearly all exported from China, found 12 items with cadmium content above 10 percent of the total weight.

Several of those shed very high amounts of the metal when analyzed for how much of the toxin a child might be exposed to after swallowing the item.

Like lead, cadmium can hinder brain development in young children, according to recent research. It also causes cancer.

Writing in a blog post, Inez Tenenbaum, chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said:

Now we hear about cadmium in jewelry. This is unacceptable. Just this week, I sent a clear message warning manufacturers against the use of heavy metals, ‘especially cadmium,’ in a keynote speech that was delivered Tuesday at the APEC Toy Safety Initiative/Dialogue in Hong Kong.

Because of these recent developments, I have a message for parents, grandparents and caregivers: Do not allow young children to be given or to play with cheap metal jewelry, especially when they are unsupervised.

We have proof that lead in children’s jewelry is dangerous and was pervasive in the marketplace. To prevent young children from possibly being exposed to lead, cadmium or any other hazardous heavy metal, take the jewelry away.

Tenenbaum said the commission is moving swiftly to stop the replacement of lead with cadmium and other hazardous heavy metals in children’s products imported from China.

We are also actively investigating the jewelry cited in the recent AP story and will inform parents and consumers quickly of any actions we take as a result of our efforts. Our investigation is squarely focused on ensuring the safety of children.

Tenenbaum added:

It is very difficult for a parent to determine if an item contains harmful levels of a metal in a specific item except by checking recalls listed on the CPSC Web site. Parents should know that swallowing, sucking on, or chewing a metal charm or necklace could result in exposure to lead, cadmium or other heavy metals, which are known to be toxic at certain levels of exposure.

We are working to take decisive action at CPSC, using the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, a law aimed at keeping kids safe from toxic chemicals and metals.

Tenenbaum said a tragic incident occurred in March 2006, which had a significant impact on the CPSC. Jarnell Brown, a 4-year old boy from Minneapolis, Minn., swallowed a metal charm that was nearly pure lead. He died four days later.

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By Rita R. Robison, blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Lately, I’ve been thinking and writing about the most important events and books of the year and the decade.

What have been the most crucial happenings for you last year and since 2000?

I choose health care reform, the recall of millions of consumer products, and the recall of contaminated food as the top consumer stories of 2009. My other choices are offered in “Top 10 Consumer Stories for 2009.”

I picked the economic meltdown, the sluggish economy and job recovery, and retirement delayed as the top three stories for boomers in 2009. See “Top 10 Stories of 2009 for Baby Boomers” for my other choices.

I selected “2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound,” “The Healing of America: The Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care,” and “Other People’s Money: The Corporate Mugging of America” for the best consumer books of 2009. See the article the “Top 10 Consumer Books of 2009” for my other choices.

My top three choices for the best consumer books of the decade are “Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal,” “Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth,” and “The Omnivore’s Dilemma.” See the article “Top 10 Consumer Books of the Decade” for my other picks.

For the most important stories for boomers during the decade, I chose 9/11, the War in Afghanistan, and the War in Iraq. See the article “Top 10 Stories of the Decade for Baby Boomers” for my other top stories since 2000.

The top posts on my blog The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide for 2009 were: “How Often Should You Change Your Bed Sheets,” “How to Buy Eye Glasses,” and “How to Buy a Dishwasher.” See the article “Top 10 Stories on The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide in 2009” for information on the other top stories on the blog.

The top posts on my blog the Boomer Consumer on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Web site were: “Don’t Put Condoms in Your Wallet,” “What’s in the Senate Health Care Bill?” and “How to Protect Yourself as a Boomer Consumer When You’re in the Hospital.” See the article “Top 10 Stories on the Boomer Consumer” for the other most-read posts.

Leave a comment below and let me know your opinions on the top events and books of 2009 and the decade for boomer consumers.

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By Rita R. Robison, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Many parents will be skipping swine flu shots for their children.

Only 40 percent of parents indicate they will get their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, while 54 percent of parents indicate they will get their children vaccinated against seasonal flu, a poll by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital found.

Nearly 30 percent of parents surveyed said they definitely or probably weren’t going to have their children receive the swine flu vaccination, while 31 percent were unsure.

Among parents who don’t plan to get their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, 46 percent indicate they aren’t worried about their children getting H1N1 flu, while 20 percent believe H1N1 flu isn’t serious.

Among parents who don’t plan to get their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, or who are unsure, about half are worried about possible side effects of the vaccine, according to the poll results.

Among parents who do plan to get their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, about four in five believe that H1N1 is a serious disease and worry about their children getting H1N1 illness.

Since my children are grown and I’m not raising grandchildren, this isn’t a decision I have to make.

What do you plan to do? Will you be having your children or grandchildren vaccinated for swine flu?

Information in support of swine flu vaccinations:

“General Questions and Answers on 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Safety” – Centers for Disease Control

Information that questions the safety of swine flu vaccines:

“Bird-Swine Flu Vaccine: Voluntary or Mandatory?” – Organic Consumers Association

Please leave a comment below with your opinions on this topic.

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By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

The baby boomers “are coming”; boomers are going to get older. And as they age, they’ll want health care workers to help them in their homes. 

Baby boomers will put unprecedented demands on the nation’s long-term care resources, and policy makers should act now to prepare for what appears to be an uncertain future, said Howard Gleckman, senior research associate at the Urban Institute, speaking at a long-term care symposium this week. 

Pay is a problem; 19 percent of home care aides and 16 percent of nursing home aides are compensated at a level insufficient for them to rise above the poverty line, Gleckman said. 

But as salaries for home care aides go up, it’s more difficult for older Americans and their families to afford the care. 

The symposium emphasized the need for a national long-term care strategy including funding, education, and support for the caregiver as part of health care reform. It also highlighted the numerous legislative proposals in support of caregivers aimed at helping to solve the nation’s long-term care challenges. 

See the article “Home Health Aide Shortage Looms, Experts Warn” on ConsumerAffairs.com for details.

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 By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist, Blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

• Document as many of the facts of the discrimination as possible so you’ll have a record that you can use if a claim is filed.
• Consider making a formal complaint with your employer.
• File a complaint with the nearest field office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or EEOC.
• File a complaint with your state EEOC.
• Contact an attorney.

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