Toxic levels of a cancer-causing heavy metal are lurking in jewellery sold on Amazon and TikTok Shop, a worrying investigation has revealed.
Earrings, rings and charms sold via the online marketplaces contain dangerous amounts of cadmium – a heavy metal that can affect the liver, kidneys and lungs.
It can also cause bone thinning, liver damage, infertility and cancer, experts have warned.
‘It’s one of the most potent metals to cause toxicity. You should minimise any cadmium exposure,’ Professor Christer Hogstrand, a toxicologist at King’s College London warned.
In the UK, the legal limit for this carcinogenic metal is 0.01 per cent in any piece of jewellery.
But according to an investigation by The Sunday Times, one ring sold on Amazon that was advertised as 925 silver contained more than 9,000 times the maximum limit.
It was estimated that the ring comprised over 92 per cent cadmium.
After sending a number of pieces for testing at the Birmingham Assay Office, which assesses the purity of precious metals including gold, silver and platinum, Perform Pearls – a seller on TikTok shop – was banned from the site.
Items sold on Amazon and TikTok shop have been found to contain illegal amounts of a cancer-causing metal which experts have warned is more dangerous than mercury
Charms in one of their bracelets were found to contain almost 3,300 times the legal limit of the toxic metal, putting wearers at risk of serious toxicity.
As a result of the investigation, a recall was issued and the seller was banned from the site for breaching policies.
But according to the experts, earrings cause the most concern as exposure is considered more risky when the toxic metal comes into contact with pierced skin.
‘With jewellery, the greater concern is not that every wearer will develop cadmium toxicity, but that a toxic metal is present,’ Dr Ariel Haus told The Sunday Times.
‘The concern becomes greater if the item is mouthed or swallowed, particularly by a child, or is worn against damaged or pierced skin,’ the dermatologist added.
Uses of the metal cadmium are declining and are now heavily restricted in Europe because of the health risks it poses.
However, the investigation comes amid growing concern over a wave of potentially cancer-causing products entering the UK over the last two years.
In February 2025, Essex Trading Standards intercepted a large batch of earrings that contained well over the legal amount of cadmium.
In October last year, tests on jewellery by the Office for Product Safety and Standards found Dishowme butterfly rings contained high levels of cadmium.
Officials warned that the jewellery posed a ‘serious chemical risk’ to people and must be removed online.
So far, there have been two product safety reports this year where items bought on Amazon were intercepted at the border and destroyed for the same reason.
But the National Association of Jewellers is concerned UK trading standards are not equipped to monitor the issue closely, warning that more toxic products could infiltrate the market.
According to the UKHSA, breathing air with high levels of cadmium can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, a metallic taste in the mouth, cough and flu-like symptoms, which may occur some hours after the exposure.
‘In severe cases, exposure can lead to extensive fluid loss, lung damage, multiple organ failure and death.’
‘Exposure to cadmium for a long period of time may result in damage to the bones and kidneys and may cause cancer,’ the health body warns.
As such, any item that has prolonged contact with the skin – such as tampons, buttons and jewellery – must not contain cadmium above the legal level.
Under the general product safety regulations, it is a criminal offence to supply products known to be unsafe.
However, it is unclear whether TikTok Shop and Amazon fall under this category.
An independent jewellery consultant, Jayne Bond, who bought a ring on Amazon marked 925 silver tested the ring and found that it was made up of over 90 per cent cadmium.
Despite alerting Amazon to the issue on May 12, the ring remained on sale for at least a week, returning similar results in its cadmium content.
In response, Amazon said it is in the process of removing these items after an internal investigation.
‘We take customer safety seriously and we’re reaching out to Ms Bond regarding her experience.
‘Amazon requires all products offered to comply with applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies,’ it added.
