When tested with a high-precision XRF instrument, the center metal circular “washer” piece in this Young Living essential oil diffuser (pictured here), was found to be positive for 2,282 ppm Lead.
The electrical cord of this was also positive for a fairly high level of Antimony (Sb), a possible carcinogen often found in modern electrical cords.
Arrows point to the “washer” component that tested positive for Lead.
Continue reading below for more information.
If you are new to this website and want to learn more about XRF testing, click here.
All test results that I report on this blog are accurate and replicable when using a high-precision XRF instrument designed for testing consumer goods. (Here’s more information about the specific instrument I use.) The instrument I use is the same instrument used by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to test for toxicants in consumer goods.
All other components of the diffuser pictured were “non-detect” for Lead.
The full set of XRF readings for each component are posted in detail below.
Question: Is this a problem? Does this mean there is trace Lead in the oils being diffused by this device?
Answer: As noted in my post regarding the doTerra diffuser (which has the same issue), this was likely an oversight by the company [it is highly likely no one with the company (or independently) has done testing to determine if this sort of application is in any way safe or unsafe from a Lead perspective; sorry I don’t have a better answer for that question!] However I do think this would be a very easy thing for the manufacturer to improve upon (just by simply replacing the Leaded washer with a Lead-free one — perhaps stainless steel?)
Note: while this is not a CPSC violation — nor any other kind of current product safety violation, that I am aware of — personally, I would prefer, as a matter of principle, that things that were designed and marketed specifically with the intention of imparting health benefits be completely Lead-free (and free of other toxicants, as well).
If you are connected with Young Living, please share this with them. Hopefully they will respond positively to this information and find an unleaded replacement component to use instead.
To see the other essential oil diffusers I have tested, click here.
FULL XRF TEST RESULTS for the diffuser pictured:
Note: If a metal is not listed below it was not detected in that component.
White Plastic of Top of Diffuser:
- Iron (Fe): 113 +/- 30 ppm
- no other metals detected
Silver/Gray Plastic of Bottom of Diffuser:
- Barium (Ba): 296 +/- 99 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): 142 +/- 25 ppm
- Bromine (Br): 114 +/- 6 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 139 +/- 18 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 58 +/- 16 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 16 +/- 10 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 35 +/- 23 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 8,246 +/- 460 ppm
White Electrical Cord of Diffuser:
- Barium (Ba): 222 +/- 81 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): 3,203 +/- 93 ppm
- Bromine (Br): 15 +/- 7 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 1,071 +/- 75 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 180 +/- 56 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 242 +/- 99 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 7,882 +/- 2,298 ppm
Continue reading below image
White Plastic “Box” Component of Electrical Cord (see image above):
- Barium (Ba): 1,730 +/- 98 ppm
- Bromine (Br):3,922 +/- 45 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 1,144 +/- 26 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 16 +/- 7 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 21 +/- 9 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 42 +/- 20 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 8,322 +/- 372 ppm
Continue reading below image.
Metal “Washer” in Center of Diffuser (see image above):
(Test was done for 3 minutes / 180 seconds)
- Lead (Pb): 2,282 +/- 48 ppm
- Chromium (Cr): 904 +/- 34 ppm
- Antimony (Sb): 20 +/- 11 ppm
- Selenium (Se): 373 +/- 16 ppm
- Tin (Sn): 587 +/- 15 ppm
- Zinc (Zn): 12,300 +/- 100 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 39,600 +/- 400 ppm
- Nickel (Ni): 7,846 +/- 77 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 799 +/- 23 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 52 +/- 17 ppm
The logo area of the white plastic top component was also tested and the results were similar to those for the unpainted white plastic (no toxicants detected.)
To see a list of more things I have tested click here: https://tamararubin.com/2018/01/index/
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Additional pictures of the exact diffuser tested shown below. These appear to possibly be made by the same manufacturer that makes the diffusers for doTerra (as the interior components of the bottom look nearly exactly the same):
This diffuser looks used. Are you sure there aren’t trace amounts of lead in the water that was used to fill it?
Why don’t you just send the results to the company? Why the big effort to create the smear?
The results have been shared with the company by many of my readers. There is no effort to smear anyone if you read the post, you can see that.
I think you are just trying to frighten a whole lot of people that use & love Young Living products…my question to you is…have you had a prior conflict of interest with them so you won’t personally send the testing to them, OR, is there a chance your testing skewed just a bit & YL can prove you wrong?
Hi Laurie,
This is the testing. There is no other testing. This is what I do (create blog posts with test results). The testing is science based and replicable and cannot be proved wrong. My readers then help me share these results with the companies. Have you shared the results with them? If not, why not? If so – thank you! I don’t think the test results are frightening at all if you just read the whole post. The results are fairly straight forward and my assessment is pretty low-key and not concerning.
-Tamara
Is there a diffuser that is lead free?
Exactly! I am so grateful someone cares enough about me and my family to let me know. Thanks Tamara!!
Laurie, Tamara posts results – they are objective and not designed to frighten anyone away from anything, but to inform people of facts so they can make informed choices. Don’t you want to know if a product you use is contaminated with lead? Whether that’s your diffuser, your mug, or your Christmas lights? Tamara’s results are impersonal, although it may feel personal to you if you like Young Living (or any other company of any product she posts about). But try and remember there is a much greater purpose at work here than the reputation of any one company. The health of our children – and ourselves.
LOVE!
So true…and why use lead when you can use unleaded
Why is it smear? Do you sell living young? Is that why you are defending them? The company has to know!
Smear? You have to be insane to think that this author has nothing but good intentions for users of all products tested.
I think we need to know, and if she shared with the company only, do you really think they are going to tell you? You show thank her, unstead of slamming her. That’s what she does, tell you what the company won’t. I read this 2 years ago, and still haven’t heard a word from the company
Tamara, Have you tested the Dr. Mercola essential oil diffuser? I am not sure who makes his diffuser, but I bought it for my daughter in college. Ever since the lead was found in the Xtrema products sold by both Xtrema and Dr. Mercola, I have wondered about this. Also. have you tested the Ovenex bakeware products sold by Xtrema? I have spent a lot of money on these products, but do not want to use them due to the possibility of lead…
Sorry – I have not tested either of these.
Where did you obtain the diffusers from? Directly from the companies?? Or Amazon? Or a 3rd party?
Here’s how the testing I do works: https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe-in-support-of-my-advocacy-work-you-can-become-eligible-to-send-in-a-box-of-your-things-for-testing/
The diffusers tested so far were each purchased directly from the company by the consumer.
This is a very interesting. I have different model but I assume it is simillar. If you find any diffuser with better components let us know. This is also first info about YL which is totaly objective. Majority of times these are ugly posts of people who use doterra who doesnt even know that people who do doterra worked previously for Young Living lol i see no reason ever to promote one by cost of another without any knowledge. This is helpful information. Thank you so much!
I have so far tested two different diffusers that did not have any lead in any accessible components. Today I have to help my son finish applying for college, so I don’t know if will have a chance to post the second one, but I will try to get to it, here is the first lead-free (in all accessible components) diffuser that I tested: https://tamararubin.com/2018/12/rocky-mountain-oils-droplet-usb-essential-oil-diffuser-lead-free-in-all-accessible-components/
Great question! Inquiring minds want to know 🙂
Hi KB – I just added a link above. Thank you!
Why are so many people attacking this person’s post. It wouls seem that the negative attacks imply that one makes money from this particular company. Personally, i apreciate the fyi.
Hi Anita,
Thank you so much for defending my advocacy work, I truly appreciate it! This is all a bit overwhelming – I had no idea that this post (and this information) would go wild in this way. It is very exciting because it means tens of thousands of people are newly awakening to the potential concern for lead exposure in their consumer goods. When it is consumer goods they use every day (like dishes or diffusers) it really starts people thinking about the bigger concern (the potential for lead in the dust in their homes.)
Thank you again,
Tamara
I had the same thought, Anita. The defensiveness of some of the comments definitely implies a personal relationship to the company, and likely one of financial benefit. It’s a sad aspect of our current state of consciousness that many humans reflexively put their own gain above the truth, or even just an OPENNESS to the truth. I’m so grateful to you, Tamara, for the important work you do in bringing the truth to all who have the willingness to see.
Thank you, Skye!
– T
Have you tested the one from The Melaleuca Company? Thanks for what you are doing.
Not yet, but a friend is sending me one to test. Thanks for being here and for reading my posts Rhonda!
Tamara
Warning***** please put the right information before you make false accusations. The diffuser was from Doterra NOT YOUNG LIVING. . The person posting realized it and took it down but now it is already on the internet forever.
Hi Krystal,
Uou are misunderstanding a quick comment I wrote on a post on Facebook. Someone had asked about a previous post and wanted to know if it was Young Living. I shared my doTerra post and told them that the post (on my blog) that they were thinking about was from doTerra not Young Living. THIS post (as you can clearly see) is about Young Living – I have tested both and have blog posts up for both.
Here is the doTerra post: https://tamararubin.com/2018/12/rocky-mountain-oils-droplet-usb-essential-oil-diffuser-lead-free-in-all-accessible-components/
Tamara
Antimony will be found in almost any electrical cord coated with PVC. Antimony is the main flame retardant used in any PVC product.
Hi John,
Yes, that’s true. However the USB powered or battery powered diffusers do not appear to have Antimony (or they have Antimony at much lower levels.)
Tamara
Have you tested a brand new diffuser by YL? So that the results would not possibly be skewed by the minerals in the water for diffusing? I have this diffuser and have been using it for 3 years. I am concerned about using it further.
Hi Kelli,
Please read this post: https://tamararubin.com/2018/12/young-living-reps-have-had-a-lot-of-questions-about-my-findings-of-lead-in-their-diffusers-here-are-some-answers/
Thanks!
T
That link doesn’t answer the question. Did you purchase this diffuser, brand new, from the company?
Hi Ali,
I don’t purchase things I test, my readers purchase them and send them to me or have them sent to me direct from the companies they purchase them from. If you would like to have something tested you can follow the instructions on the “subscribe” post link: https://tamararubin.com/2017/07/subscribe-in-support-of-my-advocacy-work-you-can-become-eligible-to-send-in-a-box-of-your-things-for-testing/
Tamara
Hi Tamara, I’d like to know how are we affected by led in something like this product? We’re not directly using it so how are we exposed to led in this case. Thanks!
Tamara, thank you so much for the work you do. I feel empowered with knowledge. Your work and time is appreciated.
Don’t let those people that try to discourage you get to you. Some people fight knowledge because of fear.
I rather know and act accordingly. So please, don’t let them discourage you. There’s a lot of families like mine that need the knowledge you are willing to share.
I see there are two metal rings inside of this diffuser? Is the washer the only leaded component? What about the outside circle that surrounds the washer? Was the white part in the middle of the diffuser ok? The “disc”.
The white part in some of these tests positive for over 400,000 ppm Lead.
https://tamararubin.com/2019/01/brown-ceramic-saje-natural-wellness-aromageni-deluxe-essential-oil-diffuser-437400-ppm-lead-in-center-of-inside-of-unit/