New (2019) tiles I tested for a friend. Click the image to see the Lead levels for each of the tiles pictured.

I tested these tiles (shown in the picture) using an XRF instrument and they had the following Lead readings (see the image below).

I am sharing this with my readers really just “for fun” to show the range of Lead one might find in brand new (2019) tiles. I may update this post with more information later… but in the meantime… gah… this is why I hate tiles and the tile industry. The use of toxicants in tile is simply not regulated (even today) and tiles of any type might randomly be high Lead.

The concern with high-Lead tile is the potential for the generation of dust with demolition (or cutting around installation.) I also have a larger (political, global) concern for the manufacture of tiles which (if they have high Lead) calls for the creation of the Leaded pigment – which pollutes our planet during the mining, refining and manufacturing process.

The readings in the image below are for the surface (glazed) side of the tile. For the ones that are noted as “no Lead” there may also be trace Lead in the substrate (usually well below 100 ppm if any is detected at all.)

To see more tiles I have tested and the XRF test results for those tiles, click here.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for reading and for sharing my posts. 

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama