I am Emily Bjornberg, candidate for the State Senate in Connecticut’s 33rd District covering the towns of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook.

A new state task force was formed to look into the presence of cadmium in jewelry produced for and marketed to children. Numerous experts have raised concerns about the negative health effects of children’s exposure to cadmium. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers cadmium to be a probable cancer-causing agent and has classified it as a Group B1 carcinogen.

The law passed this year made State Senator Art Linares an automatic member to the commission investigating the use of this substance, yet Linares never took his seat. Instead, he appointed a paid representative of the companies that manufacture cadmium-containing jewelry to occupy his place, as recommended to him by the industry’s lobbyists.

Linares appointed Brent Cleaveland, Executive Director of Fashion Jewelry and Accessories Trade Association of Rhode Island. Cleaveland markets himself as experienced at testifying before Congress and various state legislatures to convince them of the safety of products containing cadmium, as well as barium, lead, antimony and other “heavy-metals.”

Please join me in urging Senator Linares to do his job. Remove this industry lobbyist and work to defend the safety of our children.

Paid for by Emily4CT, Wendy Gesick, Treasurer. Approved by Emily Bjornberg.