A Chinese product safety official says the government will looking into findings that dangerous levels of cadmium are being used in exports of children's jewelry following a growing outcry in the United States.

Attending a toy safety conference in Hong Kong, Wang Xin of the safety watchdog said Tuesday that his agency only just learned of findings in an Associated Press investigation published Sunday.

Wang's comments were China's first official reaction. On Monday, Walmart pulled products cited in the AP report from its stores in the U.S.

Lab tests conducted for the AP on 103 pieces of low-priced children's jewelry found 12 items with raised levels of cadmium, which can potentially cause cancer.