Pyrex® Glass Measuring cup (c. 1994): 6,253 ppm Lead in red Outside Markings (90 ppm is unsafe for kids)

 

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For those new to this website:

Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead-poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times to confirm the test results for each component tested. Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).

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Originally published: December 30, 2016
Updated: December 28, 2019

20+ year old Pyrex® measuring cup,
purchased new c. 1994

When tested with an XRF instrument, the red markings on the outside of this cup were positive for Lead at the following level:

• Lead (Pb): 6,253 ppm

For context: The amount of Lead considered toxic in an item intended to be used by children is anything 90 ppm or higher in the paint or coating (dishware is not regulated in the same way for the presence of Lead).

While it can be argued that it is “only” on the exterior and thus “non-leaching,” this is a very high amount of Lead — especially considering it is both a relatively modern item, and one intended for heavy/ daily use in household food preparation activities. (I would also point out that the user, whether adult or child, can be reasonably expected to come into frequent direct contact with the painted markings in normal usage.)

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Tamara, how can I tell if my Pyrex® glass measuring cup has Lead or cadmium?
If you would like to make an educated guess as to whether or not a particular Pyrex® glass measuring cup may have Lead (Pb) or Cadmium (Cd) in the writing on the outside, your best option is to compare the typeface of the writing to the examples here on this site. If your cup’s typeface/ “font” is the same style and color as one pictured, it is likely of the same vintage, and will also likely have similar Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) levels as this typical example.

To see more items positive for Cadmium, click here.

To see more Pyrex-brand glass measuring cups we have tested, click here.

To see more measuring cups Lead Safe Mama has tested, click here.

To see all types (different brands) of glass measuring cups we have tested, click here.

Fortunately, there are many Lead-free options out there. For guidelines to help you choose a safer measuring cup, click here! (Prices listed below are from when this piece was originally written and they may have changed since then.)

• Here’s one good choice: 32 oz clear glass for $19.83*
• Here’s another good choice: 8 oz clear glass for $3.99*
• And, yet another good choice: 8-cup clear glass for $20.60*

Please share and browse the photo library here (click on the #XRFTesting tag above) to see items Lead Safe Mama has tested that resulted in both positives and negatives for Lead.

To learn more about XRF testing and the potential implications of Lead in cookware, click HERE and HERE.

Read more about Lead-in-Pyrex® here.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you for reading and sharing these results.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama

*Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of OUR affiliate links, Lead safe mama, llc may receive a small percentage of what you spend at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our advocacy work in this way!