Again, not all of the Czech fire-polished beads I had tested failed. Some of them do pass the lead and cadmium testing. I only thought I would have issues with the red shades and purples. I was shocked to see the clear ones failed. Most jade and cubic zirconia beads are safe from both lead and cadmium, but are hard to source in a variety of colors (from my research).

Thank you for the information. I suppose the search for reliable sources of lead-free glass beads continues.

Yes, I believe they are Jablonex (manufactured by Preciosa).
They all have trace amounts of lead, and many of them have cadmium levels that exceed the legal amounts.
Another type of bead that is widely presumed to be acceptable are cat’s eye beads.
Cat’s eye beads also have lead levels over 500 ppms and failed testing.

I’m not sure how the info began circulating, but Czech fire-polished beads are not lead free.
I have a children’s jewelry company and have had Czech fire-polished glass beads tested by a third-party accredited lab and they DO CONTAIN LEAD. The clear one’s did not pass the lead test (130 ppm) and neither did the yellow (270 ppm). Although the red passed for lead (60 ppms), the cadmium levels didn’t pass (1400 ppms). I believe the federal limits for cadmium are set at 100 ppms as well, but I believe their are 5 states that currently have them as low as 70 ppms.
If you design children’s jewelry, I would highly recommend having your beads tested and not just assume and take the manufacturer’s word

“These materials or components can be used (separately or in combination) and sold (provided they have not been treated or altered or undergone any processing that could result in the addition of lead):
• Wood
• Other natural materials such as coral, amber, feathers, fur, leather, etc.• Paper and other materials made from wood or cellulosic fiber
• Dyed or undyed textiles (cotton, wool, hemp, nylon, yarn, etc.), including..
children’s fabric products, such as baby blankets, and non-metallic thread and trim. This does not include products that have rhinestones or other ornaments that may contain lead or that have fasteners with possible lead content (such as buttons, metal snaps, zippers or grommets). • Children’s books that use modern printing processes (CMYK process printing
inks). This does not include any part of a book that may contain lead (plastic, metal, or painted parts, such as spiral binding).
• Certain educational materials, such as chemistry sets
• Precious gemstones: diamond, ruby, sapphire or emeralds
• Semiprecious stones provided that the mineral or material is not based on lead and is not associated with any mineral based on lead
• Natural or cultured pearls
• Surgical steel/other stainless steel except stainless steel designated as 303Pb
• Gold, of at least 10 karats
• Silver, at least 925/1000 pure
• Platinum, palladium, rhodium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, and titanium”

Under the CPSIA the above items do not need to be tested. However, if you sell in Illinois, there are more restrictive rules that may require you to test your items. Other state laws may have more restrictive limits.

The full forum thread at Rings & Things is http://www.rings-things.com/forum/index.php/topic,2947.0.html

Common sense says that if you sell an adult product to an adult and they choose to give it to a child you have no responsibility. However, common sense is not a big part of the CPSIA, a law that makes it illegal to resell used products in a thrift shop without destructive testing.