current events

Current events

I decided to go looking for story I could comment on; I wanted something that I feel strongly about and something I have enough knowledge of, that I could make informed comments; I found a story about Cadmium in adult jewelry. Your first question should be; what is cadmium? Followed by; why it that important to me? Cadmium is a heavy metal and a carcinogen. I’m certain, in today’s society; you realize that a carcinogen is a cancer causing agent. What kind of problem can I expect from Cadmium poisoning --Respiratory and Kidney problems are well documented. Cadmium is a heavy metal and builds up in the body over time much like Lead, another heavy metal carcinogen – why am I bring up the comparison, because the same companies that are producing these toxic products are merely shifting from one toxic substance to another to keep ahead of authorities all the while putting your health at risk! How is this possible? They are produced in unregulated countries that have a single ambition, make money; how they do it is of little concern to them or their government. This is vicious cycle of cat and mouse with the consumer caught in the middle; every time, agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Committee CPSC discovers faulty or dangerous products they begin the arduous process of banning the products; but they have been powerless to enforce any penalty against perpetrators, so they (perpetrators) change tactics or venues and begin anew. If you would like more information about Cadmium Poisoning – a reliable source would be the Food and Drug Administration FDA or Environmental Protection Agency EPA or the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment KDHE and as I mentioned earlier the CSPC is another fine source. This toxic Jewelry can be plated metal chains and such, or even the breast cancer awareness bracelets – how ironic! The stores, I found, selling these items ranged from: Saks Fifth Avenue to Aeropostale as well as Catherine’s and let me not forget Wal-Mart. We, consumers, get highly charged when we here about such stories especially when it comes to kids toys but what are we doing about it; swearing at the television will not stop the import of deadly products, corporate American understands one thing and one thing only $$$$$. Where you spend your money and what you spend it on speaks volumes. I get so frustrated when in go into the store and I confronted by cheap “stuff” (feel free to substitute your favorite noun for “stuff”), I always make a point of saying, “where’s it made, I don’t buy - made in China.” If more consumers make a stand, retailers will hear them; when Wal-Mart opened its first store in Germany I was thoroughly disappointed, I thought they had broken into the land of high quality well engineered products such as Mercedes Benz, BMW and many other fine automobiles; my disappointment soon faded and triumph soon graced my being as the German people spoke with their wallets and the Great Empire was force to concede defeat and pack their “stuff” and be gone!

So always buy the best you can afford – because you get what you pay for and you pay for what you get (in the case of toxic jewelry – long term illness - or worse).