Do you want me to test your artificial Christmas tree for Lead? Click for more info.

June 2023 Update:
We are no longer accepting
artificial Christmas tree samples
for testing at this time.

For those new to this 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). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). All test results reported on this website are science-based, accurate, and replicable. Items are tested multiple times to confirm the test results for each component tested. Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).

Published: December 2, 2018

Hi all!

The other day I posted about the concern over very high levels of Lead found in the plastics used in some artificial Christmas trees (LINK), and in that article offered to test clippings of people’s trees for them if they are interested in sending any to me.

So far I’ve gotten responses from four readers interested in doing this — so that’s enough for me to go ahead and formalize this offer with a post!

It is super-important that you read the intention behind this (below) so that you fully understand WHY we would be doing this. Thank you.

INTENTION: The intention behind this project is that together we may identify other specific brands (and/or specific ages/years of manufacture) of artificial trees that were/are high in Lead. By participating, you are not “paying for a service” but you are helping me cover testing costs and get information that we can use to draft NEW articles here on the site with more specifics about potentially Leaded (and Lead-free) artificial Christmas trees. That way all this information can be shared with the public. If you follow the instructions below, we will write and publish an article about the testing results for the sample from your particular tree.

SIDE BENEFIT: The side benefit of this project is that you get to learn if the branches of YOUR artificial tree are positive for Lead or not!

Here are the instructions if you want me to test a sample from your artificial Christmas tree:

1. Take a photo of your tree assembled OR send me a picture of the tree assembled from a previous year. If the photo can be in context with other things to help demonstrate the size and color of the tree, that would be great (next to a chair or a window, for example). 
2. If you have the original box for your tree, please take a clear, in-focus, well-lit photo of each side of the box that has any identifying markings.
3. If the tree has a label on it (or a tag of any kind), please take a photo of the label or tag as well.
4. Whether or not you have the box or can provide photos of a box or label, please let me know WHEN you bought it (exact or approximate year) and WHAT STORE you purchased it from (the State in which it was purchased would be helpful, too).
5. If you know the BRAND of the tree (perhaps it is marked on the bottom or similar?) please share that information with me as well. Include a photograph of any manufacturer’s mark on the tree itself, if there is a mark available.
6. Cut off a small piece of the end of a branch that is not prominently visible (so it doesn’t ruin the appearance of the tree!). Some considerations:
   • Don’t clip a branch that might have an electrical circuit in it (in a pre-lighted tree).
   • Clip a piece that is about two inches long (about as long as your pinkie finger?).
   • If you have more than one type of branch on the same tree, you can clip off one of each of the different types (different colors? Different types of “needles?”).
7. E-mail me all of the images and details in the points noted above (TamaraRubin@mac.com), and send me the clipping from your tree. My mailing address:
   • Tamara Rubin
   • Lead Safe Mama, LLC
   • 7933 SE 15th Avenue
   • Portland, OR 97202
8. PayPal me $25 to help cover the testing costs. Click the button here to do that:

   

9. By default, your samples will not be returned to you (I can return them to you if you want to include return shipping; please let me know this when you e-mail the photos, etc.)
10. If you want to send me a whole branch — and have it returned, please make sure to also include exact return shipping (and please choose as small a branch as possible). (Note: I will likely need to bend the ends of branch segments in half for testing to make sure the scope of the XRF is filled with the material being tested.)
11. MOST IMPORTANT: When you send in your sample, PLEASE make sure you include all your contact information in the envelope as well so I know who it belongs to!

As always, thank you for reading and for sharing this work!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama