The state House has overwhelmingly approved legislation regulating the level of cadmium, a toxic substance, in children's jewelry.  The measure requires manufacturers of children's jewelry to register with the state Department of Consumer Protection.  Newtown state Representative Mitch Bolinsky says cadmium-based pigments, used to decorate inexpensive children's jewelry, can cause developmental problems, cancer and bone loss in young children. 

Monroe Representative JP Sredzinski co-sponsored the bill and says the new law would be one of the strictest in the nation and goes a long way to protecting the safety of children. 

Bethel Representative Dan Carter, who served on the Legislature's Task Force to study cadmium last summer, says the toxic chemical has been known to cause cancer and long term exposure can put children at significant risk.

The measure, which now heads to the Senate, would impose civil and criminal penalties for violations. 

The measure was approved Tuesday by a vote of 136-8.  Those who voted against the bill say it's because there are no known reported cases of cadmium poisoning in Connecticut.