In early October, Health Canada sampled and tested several types of costume jewelry from China and India. The test results showed that many items contained metal components such as lead and cadmium exceeding permissible limits. Lead and cadmium are highly toxic substances, not only to children but also to adults. Children can be poisoned by chewing, sucking, swallowing, or having frequent contact with objects containing high levels of lead.

At high levels, lead poisoning can lead to irritability, poor concentration, vomiting, seizures, and in the long term, it can affect the nervous system, causing memory loss, anemia, weakness, and even death. In adults, lead poisoning can lead to weakness, abdominal pain, high blood pressure, anemia, memory loss, miscarriage, and poor sperm production.

Some time ago, the US also conducted numerous inspections and recalled a series of jewelry shipments originating from China due to relatively high cadmium content. According to US standards, products exceeding 0.6% lead are subject to recall.

In Vietnam, there has long been a widespread market for costume jewelry imported from China.

In early 2012, the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Department inspected and discovered that 7,500 out of 7,608 plated necklaces, bracelets, and rings of Chinese origin sold in stores and markets contained the toxic substances lead and cadmium. Prior to this, China had also inspected and found these two substances in imitation jewelry and warned that they pose a significant health risk to consumers.

It is evident that imitation jewelry originating from China currently dominates the Vietnamese market. From stalls and tables in makeshift markets to shops selling cheap accessories and jewelry, this product remains popular due to its affordable price, fitting the budgets of most people.

Reporters surveyed numerous markets in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and found that these items were displayed in stalls and rows with a wide variety of designs, colors, and styles. A pair of imitation gold or silver plated earrings cost from 10,000 to 50,000 VND, considered "high-quality." A bracelet, meticulously carved with beautiful patterns, cost from 25,000 to 50,000 or 60,000 VND. Bracelets, necklaces, and rings were displayed in abundance at extremely low prices. Very few items were priced above 100,000 VND; if they were, it was likely due to price gouging.

Leaving the markets, our team of reporters surveyed several streets including Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, and Doi Can... where we found shops specializing in imitation jewelry, such as Xiao Ha Ha and the "One Price" shop selling items for 10,000-12,000 VND. These shops offered a wide variety of jewelry made from plastic, leather, imitation gold, fabric, and paper, with "Made in China" clearly printed on the packaging. The extent of the "unsafety" of these items needs to be tested, but just touching and smelling them was enough to make us feel disgusted. We hope that young people will not be tempted by cheap prices or the dazzling sparkle of these products and end up harming themselves.