Health & Welfare | Spotlight | Tainted Jewelry

Do you worry about that bracelet or necklace your young child is wearing? Do you worry more when that jewelry ends up in the mouth of your young toddler?

In connection with our project about lead levels in jewelry, California Watch is holding screening events where parents and other concerned consumers can test jewelry items to determine whether they contain harmful levels of lead.

Items will be screened using an X-ray fluorescence device, the same type of equipment used by other organizations and government agencies to perform initial screenings for lead. To do this, we've rented equipment from Quickshot XRF.

Screening these items is free to consumers. Each screening takes about a minute. You should have results on the spot. Jewelry items tested will not be damaged during the screening process.

SCREENING LOCATIONS

Wednesday, Oct. 6
De Colores Head Start at Fruitvale Village
1155 35th Ave., Oakland
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Map
 

Sunday, Oct. 10
Richmond Flea Market
716 W. Gertrude Ave., Richmond
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Map

Thursday, Oct. 14
Nahui Ohlin
1511 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles
Noon to 6 p.m.
Map