Ceramic mug; a perfect symbol of the beef I have with Habitat for Humanity: 28,500 ppm Lead + 379 ppm Cadmium.

I was just talking about Habitat for Humanity on Facebook with someone earlier today.

Habitat for Humanity has been on my S%^t list for a looooong time.

I have been continually frustrated by the lack of ethics in their Habitat ReStore program — where across the country I have seen countless examples of old lead-contaminated building components (primarily doors and windows, and sometimes chalking, heavily-leaded bathtubs and flaking, lead-painted hardware) being “salvaged” and re-sold to low income families – in the name of “charity”.

While things may be different from region to region, or perhaps may have changed very recently, I have NEVER EVEN ONCE personally seen proper toxicant labeling on salvaged leaded building components in a Habitat ReStore. I ALMOST filmed a scene in one of these stores for my documentary – to draw attention to this egregious ethical violation, but never got around to it.

It just makes me sick that an organization founded on a mission to do good by and providing safe housing for families in need – and respected and beloved for appearing to do that very thing- has chosen to make decisions that most assuredly could potentially poison some of the very same families they are charged with helping — by selling them extremely hazardous lead-laden second-hand building components in the name of “sustainable reuse”, “affordability”, etc. — and without any warning labels!

As a result, when I tested this particular mug I found it poetic and fitting that it too is painted with very high Lead paint in the decorative elements of the mug. Given my extensive experience with their cavelier/oblivious practices with regard to Lead, I was not surprised one tiny bit to learn this, unfortunately.

I told my Facebook friend earlier today that I have a “secret” wish to someday meet with Jimmy Carter and let him know this seriously f***ed-up side of what’s going on in the ReStore arm of this universally beloved organization he has famously and generously devoted a good deal of his time, energy and celebrity to (I imagine he likely has no idea of this serious fundamental flaw in their operations). [Fun trivia: in my previous career as an event planner, I organized an event with his wife, Rosalynn a couple of decades ago —and she was very intelligent, reasonable and nice to talk to – I expect he would be too.]

<End of rant>

When tested with an XRF instrument this mug had the following readings (with a minimum 60 second test):

Painted logo areas on mug (where your hand might go):

• Lead (Pb): 28,500 +/- 700 ppm
• Cadmium (Cd): 379 +/- 24 ppm
• Barium (Ba): 1,369 +/- 95 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 5,484 +/- 206 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 712 +/- 156 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 302 +/- 112 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 18,900 +/- 800 ppm
• Platinum (Pt): 466 +/- 130 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): 8,508 +/- 373 ppm
• Metals not listed were not detected with the XRF.

Blue Glazed Elements of Mug:

• Lead (Pb): 32 +/- 13 ppm
• Barium (Ba): 1,241 +/- 72 ppm
• Zinc (Zn): 10,800 +/- 300 ppm
• Copper (Cu): 89 +/- 39 ppm
• Iron (Fe): 2,207 +/- 213 ppm
• Vanadium (V): 1,698 +/- 105 ppm
• Titanium (Ti): 3,721 +/- 198 ppm
• Cobalt (Co): 20,900 +/- 700 ppm
• Metals not listed were not detected with the XRF.

As always, thank you for reading and for sharing my posts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama