THIS ‘silver’ ring could be slowly poisoning you—here’s how to stay safe

Sarah from Melbourne thought she had scored a bargain when she clicked 'add to cart' on a set of charming butterfly rings for just $8.

She didn’t realise her shiny, silver-coloured rings might be laced with a toxic metal that accumulates in the body over decades.

The discovery has sparked alarm across the online shopping world.

Cadmium found in Amazon butterfly rings

A recent investigation by the UK's Office for Product Safety and Standards revealed that Dishowme butterfly rings sold on Amazon contained dangerous levels of cadmium—a cancer-causing heavy metal.

The rings, manufactured in China and sold in clear plastic bags, were marketed for women and girls as silver-coloured accessories.

Amazon has since removed the product, but the incident raises serious questions about the safety of other inexpensive jewellery items available online.

Lab testing of 31 adult jewellery items purchased from retail stores found cadmium levels of at least 40 per cent in all samples, with most exceeding 90 per cent.

One necklace pendant tested 100 per cent cadmium, highlighting the severity of the issue.

Why cadmium is so dangerous

For Australians over 60, cadmium exposure is especially concerning due to its long half-life of 10—30 years in the body.

Once absorbed, cadmium cannot be easily converted into a nontoxic form or excreted, allowing it to accumulate and cause damage years later.

Health risks include kidney and bone damage, various cancers, and neurological injury.

Older adults with already stressed kidneys or weakened bones may experience accelerated health problems from cadmium exposure.

Regulatory gaps and warnings

Surprisingly, adult jewellery is largely unregulated for cadmium content, unlike children’s jewellery which faces strict limits.

Regulations vary widely between countries—lead content is limited to 100 ppm in substrate and 90 ppm in coating and paint, while cadmium cannot exceed 75 ppm in any component.

California law permits no more than 0.03 per cent cadmium in children’s jewellery.

There is no way to identify cadmium in jewellery just by looking at it, but warning signs exist.

Red flags include extremely cheap prices, vague product descriptions, missing manufacturer information, silver-coloured items that are not genuine silver, and basic plastic packaging.

Safer shopping strategies involve buying from reputable Australian retailers who test their products, choosing jewellery with clear metal composition labelling, and avoiding items marketed with health claims.

Adults should also avoid putting jewellery near their mouth or food.

Global context and enforcement challenges

The Amazon butterfly ring recall is part of a wider global problem.

Recent recalls in the United States have shown that major retailers continue to sell jewellery with dangerously high cadmium levels.

Investigations by the nonprofit Center for Environmental Health found that some jewellery sold with women’s clothing was nearly pure cadmium, capable of causing cancer and reproductive harm after prolonged exposure.

Enforcement is inconsistent and testing is costly, though X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis offers a non-destructive method to determine metal composition quickly and accurately.

The UK’s action against the butterfly rings should serve as a warning for consumers worldwide.

Until stronger regulations and enforcement arrive, shoppers must take responsibility for protecting themselves from potentially toxic products.

Your health is worth more than a bargain price tag—if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If the idea of toxic metals in jewellery has you concerned, there’s another eye-opening case that highlights the risks of everyday products purchased online.

A recent investigation uncovered dangerously high levels of harmful metals in items sold by a popular online retailer, showing that this problem extends far beyond costume rings.

Following these stories can help you stay informed and make safer choices when shopping for everyday products.

Read more: Documentary exposes ‘harmful metals’ in popular Temu products

Have you ever experienced unexplained skin reactions from costume jewellery or wondered about the safety of your online purchases?