By Karim Hammam
A BBC investigation has found that jewellery advertised as sterling silver on major online marketplaces including Amazon, Temu, eBay, Etsy and OnBuy contains illegal levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal classified as a carcinogen.
The BBC’s Watchdog programme purchased 25 pieces of jewellery, priced between £1.55 and £1.99, and had them analysed by experts. Eight items breached the legal cadmium limit of 0.01 per cent, with some containing up to 10 per cent cadmium. Only two pieces met the sterling silver standard of 92.5 per cent pure silver.
Health risks and legal limits
The UK Health Security Agency categorises cadmium as a category one carcinogen, particularly dangerous when ingested or inhaled. The investigation also examined a necklace bought on Etsy described as handmade sterling silver; one part of its chain showed a nickel concentration of 11 per cent, which can cause skin irritation.
Platform responses
Amazon said it had contacted affected customers, removed the listings and offered refunds, stating that all sellers must comply with UK law and REACH regulations. Temu said the products were removed through its monitoring before the BBC inquiry and that it had commissioned independent lab testing. eBay said it prohibits misleading listings and removed the identified items, though it asserted that none of the eBay purchases contained illegal cadmium levels. The Independent has contacted Etsy and OnBuy for comment.
Hallmarking standards
In the UK, sterling silver must be independently tested by an authorised assay office using X-ray fluorescence to verify silver content before receiving a hallmark. The hallmark includes the sponsor’s mark, fineness mark and the assay office’s mark, guaranteeing the metal meets legal standards.
