[knotty panda]

Interesting question indeed especially with so many people placing the pearls in their mouth to see if they're real.

Seafood is closely monitored and would present the same contaminant levels as mollusks. The mollusk by-products would present a lesser amount of contamination. Thallium and cadmium are rapidly decaying contaminants and would dissipate before shells and pearls reach you. Mercury and lead decay at a much slower rate. How much detective work does the Canadian government do to uncover such contaminants? I heard a report on the news this evening that they have found lead contamination in baby bibs imported from China. I don’t know who thought to check baby bibs for contamination, but God bless them! With so many scandalous things happening with Chinese imports, I think they’re scrutinizing every product imported from China. You may have an answer to your question quickly.