| Abstract Scope |
.In fashion jewelry, brass alloys are a common material used because of their cost-effectiveness, mechanical behavior, and optical properties. Unfortunately, there is a lack of stringent regulation enforcement in the jewelry industry regarding brass alloy compositions. While the European Union and California regulatory bodies have created restricted substance lists, compliance is incomplete. Thus, some brass alloys contain metallic elements that present toxicity and hazard to workers, consumers and at end-of-life. In this study, GreenScreenŽ for Safer Chemicals and ŠThermo-Calc Software were utilized, respectively, to evaluate and identify the toxicity hazards of alloying elements, and the role of these alloying elements on phase stability and performance. Additionally, market price and mine production data were analyzed to evaluate supply chain issues. This integrated evaluation of policy, toxicity, resource availability, and performance provides guidance for sustainable selection of alloy compositions that promote safety for workers, consumers and the environment. |