With lead banned in children's products by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), many American politicians, regulators and consumer groups are now calling for a ban on cadmium, another toxic metal that has been used in consumer products. Cadmium is a soft, bluish-white, natural metal with a very-low melting point. It has been used in batteries and jewelry, as well as in coatings on consumer products. Various studies have concluded that it is toxic and that certain exposure levels can lead to significant health problems. As a result, the use of cadmium has been on the decline in recent years. However, with the recent lead ban, it has been reported that some non-U.S. manufacturers in the last two years have turned to cadmium as a replacement for lead.

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