Is the lead in Swarovski crystal beads dangerous?
Generally, no, though you may want to wash your hands and be sure to keep lead crystal of any sort out of your mouth and away from children. Lead is toxic if it is ingested or otherwise introduced into the bloodstream, but simply touching crystal lead jewelry will not expose you to enough lead to be toxic. Swarovski has made statements (see below!) which say that they believe the lead in their crystal is not easily “released” from the crystal and therefore does not pose a health threat. That being said, if you’ve been working with Swarovski lead crystal beads or any beading supplies containing lead you may want to thoroughly wash your hands before touch or preparing any food, just to be safe. Can I buy and sell Swarovski crystal beads for jewelry in California? You are may be aware of California Proposition 65 which sets requirements on the use of lead in products including jewelry of certain types. This is directly from the state of California’s Toxic Substances Control website: “Glas
