HARTFORD, Conn. -- Some charms and accessories for children may seem harmless, but those items could contain a dangerous chemical element.

Now, state legislators are pushing to ban the sale of jewelry containing cadmium.

Cadmium is known to cause serious developmental problems in children, and children are known to put things, like jewelry into their mouths. Legislators are calling for a swift passage of the bill that will ban cadmium.

There have been several recalls of cheap children's jewelry containing the chemical. Legislators said that can only help their efforts to ban cadmium in such products in the state.

Rep. Diana Urban said, "When you look at this heavy metal, it is a neurotoxin. It upsets hormones, it damages kidneys and on top of that, its carcinogenic."

There are federal restrictions on the amount of cadmium that can be used in packaging, but not on what the packages contain.

Sen. Edward Meyer said, "It's really been remarkable. We've acquired a national reputation of attacking these chemicals like no other state in the country."

No major brand name manufacturers use cadmium in their products and the ban would be phased in over three years. The hope is, that companies will stop using it voluntarily.