Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand (Made In USA) Coffee Cup: 299,800 ppm [30%!] Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)
![Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand (Made In USA) Coffee Cup: 299,800 ppm [30%!] Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)](https://tamararubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Made-in-USA-Hull-Potteries-Vintage-Coffee-Cup-Lead-Safe-Mama-1.jpg)
Ceramic “Hull” Made In USA “Oven Proof” Coffee Cup.
When tested with an XRF instrument this cup had the following readings (each test done for a minimum of 60 seconds.)
Exterior Brown of Cup
- Lead (Pb): 120,700 +/- 5,000 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 498 +/- 145 ppm
- Selenium (Se): 158 +/- 77 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 17,300 +/- 1,000 ppm
- Vanadium (V): 110 +/- 54 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 821 +/- 120 ppm
- Magnesium (Mn): 24,100 +/- 1,400 ppm
- If a metal is not listed it was not detected.
Continue reading below image.
![Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand (Made In USA) Coffee Cup: 299,800 ppm [30%!] Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)](https://tamararubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Made-in-USA-Hull-Potteries-Vintage-Coffee-Cup-Lead-Safe-Mama-2.jpg)
Mottled White Lip / Edge of Cup (image above):
- Lead (Pb): 299,800 +/- 26,000 ppm
- Barium (Ba): 1,234 +/- 391 ppm
- Copper (Cu): 324 +/- 147 ppm
- Iron (Fe): 8,559 +/- 1,101 ppm
- Titanium (Ti): 687 +/- 173 ppm
- Zirconium (Zr): 31,200 +/- 3,600 ppm
- Magnesium (Mn): 9,435 +/- 1,369 ppm
- If a metal is not listed it was not detected.
All Hull brand items I have tested have been positive for very high levels of lead. I would never drink out of these (especially not coffee!) and do consider this brand of pottery to be a potential significant exposure source (and health risk) if used as intended for food use purposes.
To see more mugs I have tested, click here.
For some safer (Lead-free) mug choices, click here.
For more safer choices in kitchenware options, click here.
Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama ![Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand (Made In USA) Coffee Cup: 299,800 ppm [30%!] Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)](https://tamararubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Made-in-USA-Hull-Potteries-Vintage-Coffee-Cup-Lead-Safe-Mama-3.jpg)
![Vintage Ceramic Hull Brand (Made In USA) Coffee Cup: 299,800 ppm [30%!] Lead (when tested with an XRF instrument.)](https://tamararubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Made-in-USA-Hull-Potteries-Vintage-Coffee-Cup-Lead-Safe-Mama-4.jpg)
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Unbelievable…so shocking! I don’t understand why they do this. Is it just cheaper for them to manufacture?? I can’t wrap my head around this.
– Ivanka
Hi Ivanka,
The Lead industry did a solid job of convincing other industries (like pottery and house paint) that Lead added beneficial properties to their products. This was especially true in times when there was not a war going on (and bullets were not being made and the Lead industry needed an outlet for their product) – so the 1950s – 1960s (when this cup was likely made) we were between wars and ceramics from that time tend to be very high lead. That also explains why paint between WWI and WWII is very high Lead (among the highest Lead paint one usually finds on homes.)
Tamara
Okay, and just how much of that lead leaches out into the beverage? If it does not leach out, it is not a problem.
Hi Michael,
With something as high as 30% lead (which is the same amount of lead as leaded crystal) I would imagine it would likely leach similarly to leaded crystal – or possibly more significantly given it is intended for coffee which is very acidic and generally sipped more slowly than wine from a wine glass. Here’s the post on my blog that has a link to the crystal study (done by Harvard scientists): https://tamararubin.com/topics/crystal/
Additionally this bowl was only positive in the 50,000 ppm range and leached enough to poison a young boy (as the single identified source of poisoning for this child): https://tamararubin.com/2018/04/a-short-story-of-a-small-vintage-ceramic-bowl-from-wisconsin-and-a-boy-that-was-poisoned/
Tamara
My grandma had the entire set. 93 and 77 were their ages of death. So, while I agree we need to be aware, we should also not go overboard. I’m actually eating off the plates and drinking out of the cup right now. I am 35 and have ate off this set my whole life.
Hi Deb,
Here’s a post that gives some context to that perspective: https://tamararubin.com/2015/02/fine/
Tamara
OMG! We used to have a whole set of the Hull dinnerware. I cannot believe how much lead! However, I am even more upset that starbucks is selling mugs that are full of lead. I had been collecting their City Scape/You are here mugs and I use them for coffee every morning! The funny thing is, I only ended up here bc I was trying to figure out if ceramic bowls were safe for my pet. I’d love to see some results for pet dishes. No wonder all of our pets are getting kidney disease. I am furious!
I have a set of Hull soup bowls that I use ONCE a year on Christmas Eve when I prepare French Onion Soup since the early 70’s.
Should I now be concerned about the infrequent use of these bowls regarding the lead use?????
Were your results based on one usage?
Here’s more info on the testing I do: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
Here’s the concern: https://tamararubin.com/topics/does-vintage-and-new-functional-pottery-and-dishware-have-unsafe-levels-of-lead/
I don’t think these are EVER safe to use with this level of Lead. Especially given the age (regardless of the usage pattern.)
Tamara
Are they worth anything?
YES… yes they are.
Which is why collectors are trying to drive the price down!
(WHAAA?? Ohhh!)
I have the hull USA #31 dish, “green ombre” would like to know if it has lead.
I have 7 boxes of old brown drip ware all made in USA
All of the hull ovenproof mugs have a C inside a circle after the Hull name
what your testing is a cheep copy made overseas
the company closed in 1986 and reproductions started to flood the market
I would not drink from a high lead content mug made in China
Hull has consistently tested high – all examples, all colors, all styles.
Why is it only your testing gives Hull Oven Proof High and dangerous lead ratings. Even FDA says it is OK to eat from
I don’t think the FDA says it is safe to eat off of vintage china that tests positive for nearly 30% Lead in the glaze. You may want to look up your source. There are a lot of FDA warnings about vintage china.
Tamara
so I should sell all of mine? I was going to use the set and continue to collect. Now I should stop. Why collect them?
I personally think these should be smashed (inside a garbage bag) and thrown in the trash. They are not safe for food use and can easily poison the user – selling them would poison the next user and it’s just not okay – with lead levels like this especially.
Please read this post for some more thoughts on that:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/12/what-should-i-do-with-my-lead-contaminated-dishes-to-toss-or-not-to-toss/
Tamara
I just bought a gorgeous Hull blue drop pattern 4 chamber leaf tray that I was excited to use for party snacks. All my plate ware is various vintage China pieces that I’ve used daily for 10 years. This is blowing my mind.
Hi Emily!
Thank you for commenting. The Hull brand products are particularly dangerous. Please let me know if you have any specific questions and I will do my best to answer them. The long term health impacts from chronic low-level lead exposure are definitely something to be concerned about and look out for if you have been using these dishes.
You may want to check out this post with more information and some linked science:
https://tamararubin.com/2017/01/what-is-the-impact-of-lead-poisoning-in-adults-including-college-age-students/
Tamara
I am shocked and sad to read this. But I appreciate the knowledge. I just found and bought 3 mugs today. I obviously won’t drink out of them now. Do you think they are safe for a plant at least?
Oh good – they might kill your plant. The levels are outrageously high. Personally I think these should be smashed and put in the trash so they are not accidentally used by someone (used as a mug) some time in the future. They WILL poison people.
T
Pfaltzgraff made similar brown drip pieces. Do you know if they are safe?
I don’t believe I have tested those.
T
She Doesn’t collect those, so it’s safe to keep them LOL
Hi Tamara,
Thanks for this article.
Since they are so dangerous, please have everyone send their items to Goodwill so the rest of us can snatch them up!
Thanks!
I picked up a vase made by hull from a sale. Is it safe just for looks?
This question was asked of Hull on facebook regarding the brown drip pottery specifically. Below is their response. My family uses this set all the time!
The Hull Pottery Association: “This has come up from time to time. Many people use the dinnerware daily and run it through the dishwasher with no apparent effect. According to The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Hull Pottery, Volume One, Copyright 2006, Brenda Roberts, page 44 the Federal Food and Drug Administration tested the dinnerware at one hundredth of one part per million (0.01 ppm), which was next to nothing and was far below the established safety level of lead emission of seven parts per million (7 ppm). Ref.”
Oy – that is so untrue it hurts. I would get a blood lead test immediately if you are using this on a regular basis. Here’s an article to read with more info on blood lead testing:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/02/blood-lead-testing-please-get-everyone-in-the-family-tested-since-you-have-been-living-in-a-house-with-high-lead-paint/
Here’s an article about the general concern of using high-lead vintage pottery:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/02/blood-lead-testing-please-get-everyone-in-the-family-tested-since-you-have-been-living-in-a-house-with-high-lead-paint/
You might also want to consider getting a hair or urine test (whihttps://tamararubin.com/2020/05/i-heard-that-urine-and-hair-tests-for-heavy-metals-including-lead-were-not-real-or-useful-test-results-why-is-this/ch more accurately shows long-term exposure). Ask your doctor about that, but here’s some more info too:
T
So your saying that you have much better equipment and experience than the federal organization that is actually responsible for testing. You want everyone to believe you instead the FDA because…. you say so?
The FDA is not testing all products. They do not have the resources to do that. I test products using the same equipment used by the CPSC. The FDA does not regulate vintage and antique pottery. These were made before the current FDA regs were in place or enforced.
I have received two awards from a consortium of federal agencies – which included the FDA (in part because I am doing work they do not have the capacity to do.)
For anyone else browsing the comments – who are curious about Tamara’s testing and credentials- here ya go: https://tamararubin.com/2016/12/ask-tamara-what-do-you-use-to-test-for-lead/
And her XRF certification, also linked in the above post:https://tamararubin.com/2017/09/certificate/
(No I don’t work for her, I just wanted to check the possible lead content of my own Hull items. Thanks Tamara!)
Tamara,
Have you also tested Hall and McCoy brown drip pottery dishwater for lead content? Thanks
I have – and if it is older (like these) it is likely also very high lead.
Hi Tamara,
Thank you for your articles about the Hull pottery. I too have several pieces, and now would like to throw them in the trash. Have you tested the similar pottery, McCoy? I am guessing they are probably lead bombs too.
Thanks!
Ding bust it… I just bought several pieces from an antique store, intending to use them as daily ware. Well, they still *look* nice… can I assume that if I put them on a display shelf, back and away from everything else, they should be fine? Stick some plastic flowers in ’em or something? Is there some kind of sealant I can/should put on them so as I can handle them without too much risk?
You can always where gloves when handling
them to put on shelf. I just gave my whole set to my grown son . He wanted to show them off.
It’s so scary – because they are so incredibly toxic. I would not want to risk someone actually using them for food by having them in my home. This is one of the cases where the glaze is so incredibly toxic I think it would be better if these (mass-manufactured) products were destroyed – to fully eliminate the risk of potentially poisoning someone in the future.