#AskTamara: “Are the 3M Lead Check swabs sufficient to test the surfaces of toys? Is it better than nothing?”
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). Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).
#AskTamara
M asked: “Are the 3M Lead Check swabs sufficient to test the surfaces of toys? Is it better than nothing?”
My answer to her question (on Facebook) …
My answer in an article here on the website …
Sarah — another thing I wanted to clarify for you is that the swab kits are very useful for testing for Lead in paint, but are not specifically designed to test for Lead in toys. Toys are considered toxic for children at levels as low as 90 parts per million and the detection limit set by the swabs is closer to 600 ppm. The swabs may also not show a positive reading when used on Lead-positive plastics, pottery and crystal (for example) — not because the swabs are faulty, but because they were specifically designed for testing for Lead in higher concentrations in surface coatings (like found in house paint) — something they do very well.
– Len & Tamara
Here’s another article discussing the things you can test with a Swab. And yet another that discusses what is best tested with an XRF instrument.
As always, thank you for reading and for sharing this work!
Here’s one more piece you may find of interest: “Can I test my dishes with a LeadCheck swab? ”
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
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Hello,
I have a vintage Fisher Price Happy Apple from 1973. I thought I saw where you tested them as lead free. Might you share that again so I can show my son it is safe for our new baby to play with and chew on if she desires?
Thank you so much for what you do!
I see an inquiry about the Fisher Price “People” set. I can’t seem to see an answer and am also curious as I have a set that my grandkids play with.
I have only ever seen the vintage toys test as high for lead! Did you search here and find your answer in the search bar of this blog? I typed little people into the search bar and this is what she wrote about it. High lead!
https://tamararubin.com/?s=Little+people
I have Fisher Price People, the Farm, Medical Kit, Music Box Record Player, Drum and Kitchen that were my sons in 1982-4. I also have the Little Tykes Play Transporter and the Mattel Digger.
I am having a grandchild and would like the child to eventually play with these that his Daddy played with. Since they are more appropriate for age 2 and up would they be considered safe? I don not anticipate them going in the mouth and being chewed on. Are they safe? Your information is very informative and greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help,
Carol
I have a vintage Fisher Price Hickory dikory dock radio. Does this have any toxic chemicals?
https://tamararubin.com/2017/12/vintage-1980-fisher-price-quaker-oats-toy-radio-2110-ppm-lead-108-ppm-cadmium-204-ppm-arsenic/
Has anyone ever tested the Fisher Price 1993-1997 dream house and it’s My loving Family accessories? Thank you!
Has anyone tested the Fisher Price Happy Apple? My son adores it and we also found this via his physical therapist who would unknowingly shows this toy to infants in her care. Thank you!!!
Never mind!! I saw your post about the Happy Apple:-)
Thank you for all of your very helpful information! I have a bed with some leather on the headboard I am now concerned about after learning more from your posts. Short of XRF is there any sort of testing I can do? Would a dust test be helpful in any way? Do I just need to bite the bullet and either get rid of the headboard or hire a professional? Thanks!
Has anyone tested Hot wheels/ Matchbox brands for kids Car toys?
I am curious to know…
Test results are here on the website. Just put those keywords in the search bar at the top of any page of the site.
Looking for info on Kid Kraft’s Charlotte Doll House before giving it to our granddaughter.
Maybe I’m not looking for it correctly in your site.
Previously looking at your site I thought I saw that you accept articles for testing.
Thank you for all your dedication in such an important issue.
I have 2 questions:
1. I have a lot of vintage Fisher Price toys that are in excellent condition and am wondering if since xrf tests are x easy and not surface tests, how much lead is on the toys if they are not chipped or worn to dust. These are all plastic and clean. How does a child get exposed if they are not putting them in their mouths?
2. If I replace them with new Fisher Price toys, can I be sure that there is not something on them, possibly even more harmful?
The testing I do (with the specific XRF I use) tests the surface. Regular hand-to-mouth activity is the concern. The New Fisher Price Toys are free of toxicants.
Read this for context:
https://tamararubin.com/2021/06/but-is-this-dish-or-toy-or-lamp-or-vitamin-or-piece-of-jewelry-or-tibetan-brass-singing-bowl-actually-going-to-poison-me-and-how-would-that-happen-exactly/
And this:
https://tamararubin.com/2019/03/the-sugar-packet-analogy-how-much-lead-dust-does-it-take-to-poison-a-child/
T
Hello,
Can 3M lead check test kits be used on solid lead or just lead painted surfaces? I see 3M has stopped manufacturing them but the EPA recommends the D-Lead test kits instead. Can these also be used on solid lead?
Thanks!
What do you mean by solid Lead? Fishing weights or similar?
T
Hello,
I want to test suspected lead lattice windows- so solid lead that has been stuck onto the outside of windows with glue, to mimic the appearance of historical lead lattice style windows. I am aware the industry still uses real lead for this effect in modern buildings (sigh) and I am trying to determine if they are indeed lead or another material.
Also, on the 3M website, the product description says their Lead Check kits can be used to test “any surface or material including painted wood, metal, plaster or drywall” but it’s not clear if that is referring to suspected lead paint on all of those surfaces listed or whether you can test pure metal, without lead paint on top- do you know?
Thanks!
Yes – these kits would work for that application. This one might be better (and more cost effective) however: https://amzn.to/3V8ya6c aflink
Tamara
With the 3M kits you might get a false positive on a high zinc-content lead-line. With this you will not get a false positive: https://amzn.to/3V8ya6c