#AskTamara: Q. Does my child’s trumpet mouthpiece have unsafe levels of lead? A. “Yes, most do.” Click the image to learn more.
Leaded Trumpet Mouthpieces.
- Giddings Mouthpieces – Used by our friends (some of the top professional jazz musicians in the world) with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra! and
- Kelly Mouthpieces
What this goes to show is that there ARE responsible manufacturers out there and there ARE #SaferChoices to be found!
To read more of my musical instrument posts, click here.
The instrument below belongs to my son.
We have since gotten him a Lead-free Monette mouthpiece (for just under $300.)
Also of significant interest: my son’s trumpet is a 1959 Selmer “K-Modified” (image above – the same as was used by Louis Armstrong and very popular among many of the jazz giants of the day) and it tested negative for lead in the lacquered-brass body and bell of the trumpet! So even back in 1959 they were already making and using unleaded brass, in addition to the high-lead brass alloys that predominate today (at least they used unleaded brass in the case of the particular 1959 Selmer K-Modified trumpet I tested). I’ll be curious to do some more research on this and see if I can find out whether or not the actual mouthpieces that were manufactured back then were also lead-free (and if so, when things shifted to the silver-plated leaded-brass alloys found on most of the popular instrument mouthpieces today)!
Stay safe out there and thanks for reading and sharing my posts.
As always, if you have any questions – please let me know!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
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You’re delusional this makes no sense
Just using science to discuss a potential problem.
How doesn’t this make sense? It’s pretty straight forward to many other people, including myself.
does the plating protect the user from lead in the brass?
Hi Joe,
I hope that the plating would, however the issue is that one doesn’t generally notice when the plating starts to wear. You only notice wear (generally) AFTER it has already happened. As a result we got our son a Monette mouthpiece (that cost nearly $300, but was 100% worth the peace of mind.)
Tamara
monette is trash
Why do you say that? My son uses a Monette mouthpiece and so does Wynton.
T
Yes it’s true that most brass contains trace amounts of lead to facilitate machining, there is little to absolute zero transference to the body, even if the plating is worn from the contact areas.
Even repair techs and employees of instrument manufacturers that are tested regularly have no significant or abnormal levels of lead in their system.
The mouthpiece should be chosen ONLY for it’s comfort and performance with the individual playing the instrument!!
Absolutely NO need for the hype and hysteria regarding lead contact with horns and mouthpieces!!!
Has ANYONE tested the exterior of any horn or mouthpiece, raw/lacquered/silverplated for ANY trace of lead? Doubt it!
Hi Eric,
Thank you for commenting.
I know that my friends with the Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra are quite concerned about Lead in their trumpet mouthpieces and have specifically chosen Monette or Giddings because of those concerns. The old adage “know better, do better” applies, especially if we are talking about instruments that may be used by children.
The standards set for what is considered to be an unsafe level of lead in the blood in an adult male who works in an industry that might expose him to lead is much too high to be protective of human health. The current standard is either 25 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood or 40 (depending on which standards you look at.) Long term negative health impairments have been shown to be caused by blood lead levels at much lower levels than those industry standards (BLL 2.0 and below). So if an adult was told his level was “normal” or “negative” or “within safe levels” that is likely not the case from a health protective perspective, but only from an industry perspective.
Here’s a post with symptoms in adults: https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/what-is-the-impact-of-lead-poisoning-in-adults-including-college-age-students/
Here’s another post you might find of interest: https://tamararubin.com/2018/09/asktamara-could-a-vintage-leaded-brass-mouthpiece-cause-kidney-failure-in-a-trumpet-player/
And here’s a recent study done by the CEH (a nonprofit in Oakland, CA) on this subject: https://www.ceh.org/news-events/press-releases/content/new-testing-finds-toxic-metal-mouthpieces-used-musical-instruments/
As always, please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Tamara
Hello Tamara,
first of all please excuse if my English is not perfect.
Actually the XRF testing “discovered” nothing new. 99% of the brass that is machined on a lathe contains lead. But the XRF testing can not clarify if the player has any contact to the lead. F.e. nickel release occurs when a nickel-containing object comes in contact with sweat. As a result, nickel ions are released and react with the protein that is in the various layers of our skin. However lead does not react like this, so a product , especially if it is silver or gold plated, will not release any lead by a normal use. It’s just like if you would say: Do not touch a Whiskey botte it’s alcohol inside that could make you trunk! 😉
Actually, metallic lead does react with sweat and skin to create even more toxic compounds. Just see the Chemistry stack exchange, they have several posts on it.
Mouthpieces are made of “alloy 360 free machining brass” which is 3 percent lead. The lead allows for better machining surfaces, tool life. Silver plating seals the mouthpiece. Gold plating like your monette is actually silver plated and then gold plated over the silver. Trumpets like your selmer are made of leadfree brass because they are not machined.. the valve casings however are machined and usually a brass with higher copper content instead of lead content because the need to resist wear. Your k-modified does however have an very large amount of lead in it because all of parts are held together with solder that is 50 percent lead. That is far more lead than would be on the surface of about 1000 mouthpieces. If your deveined is telling it has no lead, then your system is horribly flawed. So much for your “science”. Learn more, ask questions, be responsible.
Hi Doug,
Thank you for commenting.
In student instruments (especially in school band programs, which are often underfunded) with heavy usage the plating is often wearing. Most of the mouthpieces I have tested since I posted about this originally have been positive in the 30,000 to 40,000 ppm.
Here’s a study from the Centers for Environmental Health in Oakland that agreed with the concern as a result of independent research they did: https://www.ceh.org/news-events/press-releases/content/new-testing-finds-toxic-metal-mouthpieces-used-musical-instruments/
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
I hesitate to write you, because I worry you will take your son’s trumpet away. But your son’s trumpet certainly contains lead, in the solder that holds it together. Band instruments didn’t start switching over to lead free until the early 2000’s. Before this, all of the major manufactures used solder that was around 50% lead. Additionally the machined parts of the trumpet likely contain less than 1% lead, like the mouthpieces, as they add it to the brass to make the parts machine better, and more economical. The guidelines set for children’s toys are under the assumption that kids are going to eat or swallow it, assuming your son doesn’t manage to eat his trumpet or his mouthpiece, he should be fine. Additionally the silver plate effectively seal the mouthpiece protecting him from any lead contact. But I’m pretty confident he would have to eat an entire mouthpiece before he suffered any ill effects. I repair band instruments professionally, and get my lead levels checked every year, so I’m pretty sensitive to the dangers of lead, but I have no hesitation playing or letting any child play a mouthpiece in good condition.
Hi Jake,
My son has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival and many other festivals and events. I will never take his trumpet away! 😉
I have thoroughly tested his trumpet and now that we have replaced the mouthpiece with a lead-free Monette it is negative for lead in any components that touch his mouth and hands. His trumpet is from the 1950s and it does not have lead in the body as it is important for the bell to be lead-free in order to have good tone. His is the same instrument (same model) used by Louis Armstrong.
Please see my response to other comments here in this thread for additional information about concerns for blood lead levels in adults who work with lead and leaded brass in their industry.
Most important you might want to check out this recent report from the Center for Environmental Health out of Oakland, California:https://www.ceh.org/news-events/press-releases/content/new-testing-finds-toxic-metal-mouthpieces-used-musical-instruments/
Tamara
I know your son’s trumpet I’ve worked on a bunch just like it. They all have lead in the solder joints that hold the pieces together. It’s easy to tell it’s lead solder, because it has the lowest melting point of any solders. So test the spots where the braces and tubes connect.
Are there any documented cases of brass musicians actually having higher lead levels due to their equipment?
Are there any documented cases of brass musicians having health problems associated with lead exposure from their equipment?
Hi Charles, that is a great question.
Please read this for your consideration: https://tamararubin.com/2018/09/asktamara-could-a-vintage-leaded-brass-mouthpiece-cause-kidney-failure-in-a-trumpet-player/
Tamara
I see; the only possible attribution is due to using an unplated mouthpiece. If one is using a plated mouthpiece, it seems like a non-issue.
Do you have any thoughts or information as to other heavy metal exposure effecting health, namely zinc, copper, and nickel (the constituent metals of brass)?
Have you ever tested a Yamaha mouthpiece?
Hi Kate,
I don’t believe I have – although I expect they will be within the same range as the others (10,000 to 20,000 ppm Lead.)
Tamara
What??? This is all crazy.
My son wants to play the trumpet and I now have reservations because of lead. If we get him a lead free mouthpiece, do we have anything to worry about? Or is there significant lead content in the rest of most trumpets, too? Any brands that are better than others? Thanks.
PS – I see that Bach now manufactures lead free mouthpieces. They seem to be a leader in the trumpet industry. Have you tested any of their mouthpieces or know anything about their company?
Do you know the age of the Conn Mouthpieces? They claim to be lead free now. https://www.bachbrass.com/instruments/mouthpieces
This is manufactured by Conn.
Tamara- do you have a comment on the new Bach Lead free mouthpieces? They are 0.25% or less. Thoughts?
Giddings isn’t giving him the tone he is wanting. The brass mouthpieces are better, but Monette’s are $400.
Help!
Is the bell of a new instrument a cause for concern if we purchase a lead free mouthpiece?
The Bell is not- but the valves can have lead – so kiddos should always wash hands after practicing (before eating)
We purchased a new Yamaha ‘lead free solder’ trumpet this weekend. I have ordered a Giddings mouthpiece. Thank you for your help! We will make sure he washes his hands. Is there a concern he’s touching straight lead or just if the plating comes off?
Sounds like you have a good solution across the board and with those choices there is unlikely to be an lead-exposure.
Thanks! Have you tested a giddings? I just want to make sure their lead free claim is accurate.
yes
Thanks! Final question- do you have any concerns about the other element metals in a Giddings? They use Ph-15-5 or 304L stainless. So there is nickel and chromium. Just trying to make the best choice since this is expensive.
Thanks! Final question- do you have any concerns about the other element metals in a Giddings? They use Ph-15-5 or 304L stainless. So there is nickel and chromium. Just trying to make the best choice since this is expensive.