Vintage Pyrex mugs/ tea cups in the “Old Town Blue” pattern: The dark blue paint on these mugs tested positive for the following elements at the following levels (with a one-minute test, using an XRF instrument):
- Lead (Pb): 17,700 +/- 500 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 154 +/- 12 ppm
- Arsenic (As): ND
- Mercury (Hg): ND
- Platinum (Pt): 1,018 +/- 161 ppm
- Gold (Au): ND
For Context: The amount of lead that is considered toxic to children in a newly manufactured item intended specifically for use by children is anything 90 ppm and higher (in the coating.) Vintage dishware is not regulated at all for “total lead content as detectable with an XRF” and neither is modern dishware (yet.) [Isn’t it interesting that it was positive for platinum!] NOTE: When well used, these vintage Pyrex pieces will also usually test positive with a reactive agent test (like a LeadCheck swab: http://amzn.to/2DfE3ER affiliate link*).
–
Take away: if you can AVOID having vintage Pyrex (or any vintage mugs or glasses) in your home, I would highly recommend that.
–
Here is a link to a post on my site with suggestions for lead-free modern mugs: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/mugs/
–
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts!
–
As always, please let me know if you have any questions at all.
–
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
#LeadSafeMama
–
*Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something after clicking on one of my links I may receive a small percentage of what you spend at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my advocacy work in this way.
Thank you for this. I have a whole set of old Town Blue that I have been using for about 40 years! They are now in a box for the yard sale.
Thank you for commenting!
– T
Why sell them to someone else who might not be aware if lead content?? Throw them out!!
With all due respect some of these patterns are quite hard to find. Regardless of your position on their usability there are plenty of people looking to keep and preserve these as display items.
old town blue set in my house. am i understanding this correctly – ONLY the blue pattern has lead in it. no glaze or anything else inside or outside the cups, bowls, and plate have lead..? thanks so much. and thanks for literally making a site informing folks about these dangerous metals! its not crazy one bit!
Hi Claire – yes that’s correct – it is just the pattern that is leaded in these particular cups.
You might find this post helpful:
https://tamararubin.com/2020/07/if-the-lead-is-only-on-the-outside-of-my-dish-measuring-cup-mixing-bowl-etc-why-does-it-matter-that-it-has-lead/
Tamara
Hello,
I grew up eating on the “Old Town Blue” China from Corelli— not Pyrex. I have recently began collecting the pattern and using them with my children, as they remind me of my parents. Do you know if this pattern in Corelle tested for Lead? We mainly eat off of the plates.
Don’t scrape the decorations off and snort the dust. It will not be good for you.
Wow – such a jerk, that you would make the time in your life to make this comment… on a website of a mother whose children have brain damage from being acutely lead poisoned as babies. Have a nice day, Greg.
tamara