#LeadFree: Decorative Christmas Tin (no Mark or Maker)

The Christmas tin picture here was negative for Lead when tested with an XRF instrument.

Note: The XRF instrument tests down to single-digit ppm accuracy. Items intended for use by children are considered toxic and unsafe for children at 90 ppm Lead or higher in the paint or coating, and at 100 ppm paint or coating in the substrate. A “negative” reading for an XRF (in detecting Lead) means it is below the limit of detection for the instrument (below the single digit ppm range).

Here are the XRF readings for this item:

Coated Exterior:

• Lead (Pb): Non-Detect (ND/Negative)
• Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect (ND/Negative)
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect (ND/Negative)
• Arsenic (As): Non-Detect (ND/Negative)
• Chromium (Cr): 1,817 +/- 339 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 903,800 +/- 2,400 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 84,000 +/- 1,900 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): 6,682 +/- 1,373 ppm
• Magnesium (Mn): 2,316 +/- 514 ppm

Uncoated Bottom:

• Lead (Pb): Non-Detect (ND/Negative)
• Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect (ND/Negative)
• Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect (ND/Negative)
• Arsenic (As): Non-Detect (ND/Negative)
• Chromium (Cr): 2,543 +/- 189 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 993,300 +/- 1,600 ppm
• Magnesium (Mn): 2,616 +/- 519 ppm

These sorts of results are typical for tins of this nature. The decorative elements on this tin are not painted on, it is a decal.

Painted tins are more likely to be Leaded (especially if they are older).

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

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama

For those new to the Lead Safe Mama 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).

• Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama, LLC — a community collaborative woman-owned small business for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety.
• Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific testing method) using the exact instrumentation employed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic).
• Since July of 2022, the work of Lead Safe Mama, LLC has been responsible for 5 product recalls (FDA and CPSC).
• All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable.
• Items that Lead Safe Mama, LLC reports on are tested multiple times to confirm the results published (for each component tested).
• Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February 2023 (March 2023 print edition) and The Guardian in November 2023.