At present, marketing phrases such as "popular internet celebrities" and "big brand replacements" flood e-commerce platforms and live streaming rooms. With "high appearance and low prices", alloy jewelry has become a new favorite of online consumption. However, these seemingly tempting "beautiful accessories" may become "invisible killers" of health after wearing, hiding the risk of excessive toxic heavy metals. According to media reports, Ms. Hu from Wuhan, Hubei recently purchased a necklace (priced at 199 yuan) claiming to be "the same 925 silver as a celebrity" online, and has not taken it off during showering or sleeping. However, starting from late July, the patient's neck repeatedly developed erythema, papules, and blisters, and was diagnosed with "jewelry dermatitis". The culprit is precisely this necklace that has been worn for a long time! Why did you experience symptoms recently after wearing jewelry without any problems in the past? This type of alloy jewelry often contains highly allergenic heavy metals such as nickel, cobalt, and chromium. In summer, there is an increase in sweat in the human body, and the salt in sweat can accelerate the dissolution and shedding of metals, causing severe allergic reactions when it seeps into the skin. In severe cases, it may lead to infection, suppuration, and permanent scars. More importantly, the allergenicity of metals such as nickel has a cumulative effect - initial contact may be asymptomatic, but allergic reactions may gradually worsen after multiple wearing. According to media reports, a reporter sent 19 pieces of jewelry for inspection, which had many problems: the silver chain with the "925" steel seal had a silver content of only about 13%, and even one was made of white copper; Three earrings claiming to be "925 silver needles", one made of iron, one made of copper, and only one containing silver; All the accessories submitted for inspection were found to contain elements such as copper, iron, lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, etc. In addition, a blogger tested multiple earrings claiming 925 silver and found that 6 out of 8 products submitted for inspection were actually copper alloys, with varying levels of heavy metal exceeding the standard. Three of them exceeded the nickel release standard, with the highest exceeding 61 times the standard. There is also a diamond earring with cadmium exceeding 1179 times the standard. 1、 How serious are the health hazards of alloy jewelry? Cadmium (Group 1 carcinogen): After entering the human body, its metabolism is extremely slow, and long-term accumulation can cause damage to the kidneys, bones, and respiratory system, significantly increasing the risk of specific cancers such as lung cancer and prostate cancer. Lead (Class 2A carcinogen): It has neurotoxicity, especially endangering the development of children's nervous system. Nickel and chromium (strong allergens) are the main culprits causing "jewelry dermatitis". Nickel can cause redness, itching, blisters, and even ulceration through skin contact, and the course of the disease may be prolonged for several months. 2、 Why do merchants add these harmful metals? Low cost: Cadmium can enhance glossiness, lead is easy to shape, nickel can increase hardness and wear resistance, and merchants intentionally mix it for profit; Unknown material source: Some accessories may use recycled materials or industrial waste, and may even contain rare metals with incalculable hazards. 3、 How to avoid the low price trap and wear jewelry safely? 1. Be wary of alloy and plated jewelry with abnormally low prices, such as "live broadcast room flash sale" and "gold-plated/gold-plated flat replacement". Low prices often mean inferior materials and significantly increased risk of heavy metal exceeding standards. 2. Identify legitimate channels and certification marks: Carefully review the product label or details page, requiring clear material specifications (such as "S925 silver" steel seal) and testing and certification that complies with national or international safety standards (such as GB 28480-2012 "Regulations on the Limits of Harmful Elements in Jewelry"). 3. Carefully choose products containing high-risk materials such as nickel and chromium: Especially for people who are prone to allergies, they should actively avoid products that are clearly labeled or known to contain highly allergenic metals (such as nickel). 4. Avoid prolonged wearing and contact with water and sweat stains: Be sure to remove alloy jewelry when taking a shower, sleeping, or exercising. In summer, the wearing time should be shortened and the skin of jewelry and contact areas should be regularly cleaned. 5. Stop wearing immediately and seek medical attention if discomfort occurs: Once abnormal reactions such as redness, itching, or rash appear on the skin, immediately remove the jewelry and thoroughly clean the contact area. If symptoms are severe, seek medical attention promptly and proactively inform the doctor of the relevant wearing history. 4、 Simple method for identifying genuine silver (for reference only) Sound test: Tap the jewelry lightly, and the sound of genuine silver is usually crisp and pleasant, while the sound of counterfeit silver or alloy may be relatively dull. Observation and light scraping: For some silver plated products, if the coating is easily scraped off to expose the underlying brass color, it is highly likely to be a copper alloy substrate. Sulfur soap water detection: Rinse the sulfur soap flakes with boiling water and soak the jewelry for 5 minutes. The surface of genuine silver is prone to oxidation and blackening, while counterfeit silver or non silver coatings may remain unchanged. The blackened part can be wrapped in aluminum foil and immersed in hot water (with a little salt or baking soda) to try restoration. Beauty is precious, and health is even more valuable! Don't be fooled by marketing tactics such as "one yuan flash sale" and "celebrity same style". Behind the "beauty trap" of cheap jewelry, there is often a heavy metal risk that cannot be ignored. When purchasing jewelry, safety and quality should be prioritized. (New Society)