A BBC investigation has uncovered that jewellery sold as sterling silver on major online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Temu, Etsy, and OnBuy contains toxic chemicals. Experts analyzed 25 items purchased from these platforms and found that eight of them had illegal levels of cadmium, a chemical linked to cancer. Only two items were confirmed to be genuine sterling silver.
Meranda, a 34-year-old buyer, experienced skin irritation after wearing a necklace advertised as handmade sterling silver on Etsy. Laboratory tests revealed that her necklace contained nickel, another toxic chemical, with concentrations as high as 11% in one part of the chain. The necklace was also found to contain only 8.9% silver, far below the required 92.5% for genuine sterling silver.
Sophie Langley, who led the analysis, described the cadmium levels found in some items as 'absolutely massive' compared to legal limits. Rob Chilcott, a retired professor of toxicology, warned that cadmium poses significant health risks if inhaled or ingested. The affected items were purchased from Amazon, Temu, OnBuy, and Etsy.
In response, Amazon, eBay, Temu, and OnBuy stated that misleading listings are prohibited and that they had removed the identified jewellery. OnBuy also offered refunds to affected customers. Etsy did not respond to the BBC's inquiries. Meranda received a full refund after contacting the Etsy seller and speaking to Watchdog.