#AskTamara
Question: Do Stockmar beeswax crayons have lead (Pb)?
Answer: Below is a full summary of the specific XRF Test Results for a newly purchased set of Stockmar Wachsmalblöcke Wax Block Beeswax Crayons (purchased in August of 2018 off of Amazon.com) This is new-in-box product.
If you are in a rush to see the results, please scroll down. I do, however, implore you to read the context set forth in the narrative here (preceding the test results) as context is very important to fully understand all of the testing I do!
All test results noted here in this blog-post are based on a minimum of 60-second long tests with an XRF instrument, with each test repeated multiple times for each color to confirm the color’s test results.
Specific metals listed in the results posted below are the only elements that were found (using XRF testing) in these crayons; readings for all other elemental metals (metals not listed under each color) were “ND”.
ND stands for “Non-Detect” and is an effective negative within the limits of XRF testing of consumer goods – generally understood as accurate down to the level of single digit parts per million.
Here is a link* to this exact product on Amazon.
Continue reading below the image.
I generally only have concern for consumer goods that test positive for:
- lead (Pb),
- cadmium (Cd),
- arsenic (As) and
- mercury (Hg).
Other metals are often used for colorants, and are not generally considered toxic in toys or other children’s items. Examples: you will often find some amount of titanium (Ti) in a white product and copper* (Cu) in a green product.
To see more posts on crayon testing I have done, click here.
I think it is important to note that the design of these crayons in particular makes them really easy to test with an XRF instrument. These crayons are flat and rectangular and larger than the size of the scope of the instrument (which is a circle about 1 cm in diameter); given this design the instrument scope (testing window) is fully filled up with the contiguous material of the crayon, resulting in exceedingly accurate XRF readings. I am therefore 100% confident in the accuracy of the readings on this product.
To learn more about XRF testing, click here.
For testing these crayons, each crayon was wrapped in a clean thin baggie (see image), so the material of the crayon would not contaminate the XRF instrument in any way.
The most exciting thing about these crayons is that the specific language from the company states clearly that they not only meet TOY safety standards, but they also meet existing FOOD safety standards – which has been my biggest concern about other brands (e.g. Crayola) — that do not meet existing U.S. food safety standards for lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), based on the testing I have done to date.
A rare thing in a lot of the testing I have done: The XRF test results for this product fully support the manufacturer’s claim!
XRF Test Results for a newly purchased set of
Stockmar Wachsmalblöcke Wax Block Beeswax Crayons
Orange Block
- Titanium (Ti): 4,355 +/- 307 ppm
- ND for Pb, As, Cd & Hg!
Yellow Block
- No metals detected
- Specifically ND for Pb, As, Cd & Hg!
Purple Block
- Titanium (Ti): 8,890 +/- 348 ppm
- ND for Pb, As, Cd & Hg!
Red Block
- No metals detected
- Specifically ND for Pb, As, Cd & Hg!
Green Block
- Bromine (Br): 17 +/- 2 ppm
- Copper* (Cu): 1,428 +/- 29 ppm
- ND for Pb, As, Cd & Hg!
Blue Block
- Zinc (Zn): 26 +/- 11 ppm
- Copper* (Cu): 3,038 +/- 45 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 9,417 +/- 321 ppm
- ND for Pb, As, Cd & Hg!
Brown Block
- No metals detected
- Specifically ND for Pb, As, Cd & Hg!
Black Block
- No metals detected
- Specifically ND for Pb, As, Cd & Hg!
*Please scroll down to read about concerns for copper toxicity.
Thank you for reading and for sharing this post. Here’s a link to share it on Facebook!
Do you want me to test other types of crayons? You can purchase them and have them sent to me and I will test them and report the results here on my blog. Here’s the list of crayons I would still like to test. If you order any of these as a “gift” for me (directly from my wish-list) my shipping address is already integrated into the wish list.
If there is a brand or style of crayon that I have not yet tested and you do not see it on my wish list but think I should test it, please comment on this post and I will add it to the list.
While there are costs involved with my advocacy work (renting an XRF, childcare and transportation so I can do testing, etc.), I am not yet compensated for a lot of the testing I do (like the testing of these crayons). If you appreciate what I do, please consider making a contribution in support of my work so that I can continue doing it! Thank you.
Ways you can help:
- Chip-In via PayPal (or with a credit card)
- Support my independent consumer goods testing with a monthly gift
- Chip-In via GoFundMe
- Starting all of your Amazon shopping with a click on one of my affiliate links (even if you don’t buy a product I recommend) is also a great way to support my advocacy!
As always, please let me know if you have any questions!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
*Concerns for copper toxicity is outside the scope of my current base of knowledge. If you have concerns about this level of copper in these crayons, please do comment below and include any links that might support these considerations. The only U.S. standard I am aware of is the “Lead & Copper Rule” that dictates copper standards in drinking water in the United States. The Lead & Copper Rule sets an action level for copper in drinking water of 1.3 parts per million (ppm). This is equal to 1,300 parts per billion (ppb). I am not aware of copper toxicity regulatory actions around copper in food sources, although there appear to be many websites listing beneficial levels of copper in food. As noted in my other posts about crayons, I firmly believe that crayons should be held to the regulatory standards for food given their high likelihood of being intentionally (and repeatedly) ingested by the demographic that uses them most frequently (toddlers.)
*Some links on this page are Amazon Affiliate links. If you purchase something via one of these 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!
Yayyyyyyy!
I would love to see Wee Can Too crayons and sidewalk chalk tested. Thank you for all the work that you do.
If you can buy some and send them to me I will test them. I will add them to my wish list.
I added the crayons to my wishlist linked in the post. I could not find that brand of chalk on Amazon.
Filana says: Lead-free, CPSIA compliant.
Just purchased Filana crayons from your list.
Hoping for a clean test result.
I was considering purchasing them for my 2 year old when i found your work. Thanks so much for your research and for publishing it!
I had just decided not to purchase Stockmar as I’m looking for a beeswax or beeswax and vegetable based wax crayon that contains no petroleum products.
It’s a real challenge to learn about the pigments where much toxicity may lie.
Okonorm, made in Germany seems, from what i can find about them, to have clean products. But they’re not easy to come by in US Market. Not available on amazon or I’d ask that they be added to your wish list.
Thank you so much!
Did you read my post about Crayola? It has much of the thinking for my concerns. Also did you see the Honey Sticks post? I just avoid crayons altogether if I can.
Crayola:
Post 1: https://tamararubin.com/2018/08/asktamara-are-my-kids-crayons-toxic-which-brand-of-crayons-is-safe/
Post 2: https://tamararubin.com/2018/08/do-crayola-crayons-have-lead-2018/
Honey Sticks:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/01/honey-sticks-beeswax-crayons-thins-made-in-new-zealand-red-pink-16-and-17-ppm-cadmium/
Tamara
I just purchased Faber Castell beeswax crayons for my daughter. She no longer eats crayons but I was recommending them in my waldorf group and someone linked to your page. If you add these to your list I will purchase for you. Thanks!
PS: Copper is often recommended up to 2mg/day in nutritional supplements. Copper toxicity is often an issue of adrenal strength and other metabolic factors for binding copper to make it usable.
Hi Jessica,
Oh excellent! Thank you for your offer Jessica. Can you share the link here so I can know exactly which ones to add to my wish list?
Tamara
Greetings,
I read the previous correspondence about FC crayons. Here is a link on amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Faber-Castell-Beeswax-Crayons-Durable-Storage/dp/B00IO06VEM/
I am curious about the results, too.
Thanks,
Brigitta
Tamara, did you end up testing the Faber Castell beeswax crayons? Thank you!
Are the Stockmar tins lead free too? Thanks.
Also curious about this…
Hello there! We bought some stockmar crayons based on this thread, thank you! Would there be any reason to worry about the tin though? I am not sure, and the paint on the tin is definitely wearing off already on the hinges. Thanks!
Hi, This is the brand I had for my kids when they were young. New info has come out in Europe stating that titanium dioxide in food is toxic and they will be making new laws to prevent it in food. If your kids are chewing on their crayons that is something to keep in mind.