Boroux “lead-free” water bottle painted logo positive for: 2,235 ppm Lead, 140 ppm Cadmium, 301 ppm Arsenic.
When tested with an XRF instrument, the painted-on logo on the outside of the Boroux bottles (which are advertised as “Lead-free”) was positive for Lead, Cadmium and Arsenic. To confirm the results, I did three sets of readings, each with different sections of the painted logo within the scope of the XRF (which is about 1 cm round.) Each test was done for a minimum of three minutes to get the most accurate possible results.
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I was sent this bottle by a reader (Andrea) who tested it several weeks ago with a LeadCheck swab and found that it [even] tested positive using that methodology (a reactive agent test that can be done by a consumer at home). Andrea contacted the company regarding this, and then sent me the bottle for XRF testing.
This is the initial (totally deflective, untrue, flat-out ridiculous) response that the company sent to her:
It is not true that the swabs have a “98% false positive” rate — and just ridiculous that they even said this to Andrea. If the swabs are used as intended – following the directions – they are in fact almost always correct in their readings – as evidenced in this case, by the fact that my XRF testing of this product supported Andrea’s initial screening findings using a LeadCheck swab! [There’s actually a lot of political lobbying and efforts from a few separate industries to make consumers think the LeadCheck swabs are not accurate, even though they are, in reality, quite reliable when used as intended. You can read more about that on this link.]
To you – the company – if you are reading this: I have worked with many companies to resolve this problem. There are definitely options for Lead-free painted markings on the exterior of glass products. If you don’t yet have a solution, please contact me directly so I can help you live up to the promise you have made your customers – by making a truly lead-free bottle.
If it is any consolation, you are not the first company to get duped by your supplier into thinking your product is Lead-free when it is actually painted with Leaded paint. Here are some other companies who I have found to have glass products painted with lead paint: Jervis & George, Green Sprouts, Hevea & many glass milk bottles too!
Please note: while the readings I found are in the 2,200 ppm range for Lead, the lead content of the paint is certainly actually much higher, due to the fact that so little of the paint fit within the scope of the XRF for any of the readings taken (given the combination of large size and thin lines of the particular typeface of that logo.)
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Also important to note: It is NOT illegal to have lead painted logos or other exterior markings on items like this in 2019. The thing that makes this particularly upsetting is that the company is heavily invested in advertising, labeling and marketing their product as a “Lead-free” product – when in any literal sense, that is unfortunately simply not currently true.
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It is also upsetting that the company has not yet, to my knowledge, issued a public statement or recall since learning their product was painted with Lead paint (on or about December 10, 2018 – nearly a month ago.)
In addition to the customer reporting this concern to the manufacturer, I made a report of my own (via a review on Amazon on December 10th, see below) and it does looks as though they have stopped selling the product since that time (and they have taken down language from their online statements about the bottles being “Lead free”).
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To reiterate, as of the time of writing this blog post (1/5/2019), I have not heard of any public statement or recall notice regarding this product (a recall that is warranted given the advertising claims that the product is Lead-free.)
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Exact XRF readings from this bottle:
(each test done for at least 180 seconds, if a metal is not listed it was not detected.)
Results Set ONE:
- Lead (Pb): 2,235 +/- 30 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 140 +/- 11 ppm
- Arsenic (As): 301 +/- 20 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 674 +/- 117 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 58 +/- 18 ppm
- Bismuth (Bi): 18 +/- 11 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 1,059 +/- 250 ppm
Results Set TWO:
- Lead (Pb): 2,286 +/- 31 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 146 +/- 12 ppm
- Arsenic (As): 289 +/- 20 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 755 +/- 119 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 93 +/- 19 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 1,051 +/- 254 ppm
Results Set THREE:
- Lead (Pb): 2,230 +/- 30 ppm
- Cadmium (Cd): 141 +/- 11 ppm
- Arsenic (As): 288 +/- 20 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 711 +/- 117 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 78 +/- 19 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 935 +/- 250 ppm
As always, thank you for reading and for sharing my posts. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Tamara Rubin
#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!
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Wow, that’s crazy!! And truly terrible of this company. I can’t believe they wouldn’t have the paint tested for heavy metals and other toxic substances before using it on their “lead-free” product!
The frightening part for me is that Berkey water filters paired up to offer these exact Boroux borosilicate bottles as part of their package deals. We bought a Berkey because if filters OUT toxins, defeats the purpose to them go and put that purified water into a bottle containing lead, cadmium, and other toxins. Thanks for sharing this information, Tamara!
How about the water bottle itself? Did it contain any lead other than the painted wording? Thanks for all you do! You are truly making the world a better healthier place.
Hi Tom!
Thanks for commenting. The glass is Lead-free, it is just the painted writing on the outside that is done with very high Lead-paint. You do hold that in your hand – and water bottles sweat and the paint often wears a result, so I don’t think that diminishes the concern at all.
Tamara
We recently received these with our Berkey… that we bought to have clean water. Not to get poisoned by the glass water bottles.
It is only the white typing logo on the OUTSIDE of the bottle, so water within will not be contaminated if careful. However, I still would not like to use it because during washing if one were to scrub the outside of the bottle then move to the inside you may contaminant with lead. Also, I do not appreciate that Berkey has paired with them without thinking this through and through. I do love the Berkey system, just would not use these specific bottles, maybe the smaller Boroux bottles with raised glass logo that sometimes comes with berkey. As a general rule most Borosilicate glass is lead free and a very high quality glass. This is same glass beakers are made of in the lab so as not to contaminate samples with any leaching.
Hello,
Just curious… many companies use borosilicate glass bottles (lead free etc) but almost ALL of them have a white logo on them (presumably lead regardless of brand)… if you were to scrape the white paint off (I did this to a VOSS bottle once)… would the glass beneath it some how still absorbed lead into itself or would it then truly be lead free?
I am very interested in these bottles: https://retap.com/the-retap-way/retap-products/retap-drinkware.html
I can get a company to send me some with no logo at all… but the price is ridiculous (nearly $70 per bottle), on the other hand I could get these on amazon for $25-$30 each instead of 70 and just scrape the white logo off and have my ‘logo free’ bottle for less than half the price. Does this work or will the lead contaminate the glass beneath it to some degree?
Our family bought some Boroux glass bottles in 2020 and they gave a raised clear logo on them, that is part of the glass. No paint!! So they listened to you, Tamara!! I’m glad I found this post of yours so I can update everyone.
Good to hear! I still wish they publicly acknowledged that their original “Lead Free” bottles were painted with Lead paint. I don’t believe they many any sort of an announcement.
T
Hello,
I just found the following on their website…if we scraped off the logo would it be considered ok to keep?
Borosafe is our promise to you and the environment that all our products are safe for your health and ensure a sustainable tomorrow. We care about how our products are made, what they are made of, and how they impact the environment. Boroux Bottles can be infinitely reused, replacing the need for plastic bottles that leach chemicals and overwhelm our landfills.
Concerns about the white BOROUX® Logo
We at Boroux® take your health very seriously
Even Though there are no standards for lead content for logos on the exterior of water bottles, Boroux® adopted and meets the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) for “Lead Free” , the highest available standard for products that come in “CONTACT” with drinking water. Even though the Boroux® logo does not come in contact with drinking water, Boroux still meets this high standard even though not required.
EPA Lead Regulations
Oh wow – I did not know they wrote that (in response to my work). What jerks! You really cannot scrape it off or remove it safely.
Tamara
HI! I was about to purchase a set of these – but now thinking twice! Was the arsenic content in the glass or was it the paint? Are there any glass bottles similar you would recommend? Have you tested their soda lime bottles? Would be interested in seeing if those are safe. Thanks!
Have you tested any of the 500mL version? Would you if I send you a new one? I drink out of these exclusively. The white paint logo is rubbing off and discolored on some. Purchased some in February 2020 and a few more in August 2021.